§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received since 1 March on the transport of plutonium nitrate from Dounreay to Sellafield by sea.
(2) what representations he has received from (a) councillors of the Highland regional council and (b) others on the recent sea shipment of plutonium nitrate from Dounreay to Sellafield.
§ Mr. NorrisI have been asked to reply.
Two letters from one councillor of the Highland regional council, three letters and one inquiry from others and two parliamentary questions.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the safety standards set out by the International Atomic Energy Authority for how long a flask carrying plutonium should remain unbreached by a fire, is sufficient when compared to the statistics provided by the International Maritime Organisation on the average ship fire.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 9 March 1993]The IMO statistics are considered insufficient, taken alone, to determine adequately the risk of such transport. The United Kingdom is therefore actively participating in the joint IAEA/IMO/UNEP working group charged to evaluate the adequacy of the existing provisions and to assess the probabilities of such casualties occurring.