§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by AWE Aldermaston on the radiological contamination of soil at Aldermaston court.
§ Mr. AitkenYes.
§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has issued his Department with the equivalent of an administration order to remove radiologically contaminated soil around manhole covers of the pipeline used by AWE Aldermaston to discharge radioactive waste to the Thames; if he will place in the Library the results of the soil analysis carried out by AWE Aldermaston; if he will publish a list of the landowners involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is aware of the low-level contamination found in small areas of soil immediately adjacent to a pipeline taking treated liquid effluent from AWE Aldermaston. Our plan for its removal will be submitted to them for approval.
Our discussions with the landowners are in confidence and it is not for us to make their identities public. I will write to the hon. Member about the soil analysis carried out by AWE Aldermaston.
§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 2 March,Official Report, column 111, if he will place a copy of the results of the inquiry into the incident at AWE Aldermaston on 8 December 1992 in the Library.
§ Mr. AitkenThe report of the inquiry into the incident at AWE on 8 December 1992 was written for management purposes and it would not be appropriate to make it available. However, a copy of the report has been passed to the Health and Safety Executive and I have written to the director general asking him to consider it carefully as part of their independent safety review, following which a report will be published.