§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his assessment of the environmental hazards involved in the transport of radioactive materials by air, assuming a worst-case scenario of an aircraft carrying the highest permitted level of radioactive materials crashing on a main population centre; and what contingency plans are in place to deal with such an emergency.
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle[holding answer 5 February 1993]: In its report to the Secretary of State in 1988, the Advisory Committee for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material estimated that the consequence of a super-severe accident resulting from a plane crash in a suburban area—1,400 people/km2—would result in a mean value of very much less than one fatal cancer in 50 years, assuming that no counter-measures were taken.
Following such an accident, the police will activate the national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity. Resources available to the police include experts from British Nuclear Fuels plc who are skilled in the handling of plutonium.
§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air movements took place in 1992 conveying radioactive materials in or out of(a) Manchester, (b) Liverpool and (c) other north west or northern airfields; what is the highest permissible level of radioactivity in respect of such flights; what was the actual highest level so transported; and what percentage change he expects to the number of such flights over the coming five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle[holding answer 5 February 1993]: The Department does not keep a database of individual movements.
The quantity of radioactive material which may be transported is limited by permitted radiation levels from the type of package and by criticality safety considerations if the material is fissile.
The percentage change in the number of flights in future will depend on commercial considerations.
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many movements of radioactive material have been notified to his Department in each of the past five years; and if he will place a list of such movements in the Library.
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle[holding answer 5 February 1993]: The Department does not keep a database of individual movements.