§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what functions the A45 building at Aldermaston will carry out once the A90 building is fully operational.
§ Mr. AitkenIt is not our general policy to disclose details of the role and function of individual buildings at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston. Howevever, manufacture of a variety of components and assemblies not being transferred to building A90 will continue to be produced in A45.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the radiation leak at AWE Aldermaston on 24 March.
§ Mr. AitkenOn 24 March 1994 during planned maintenance in a laboratory a quantity of radioactive material was disturbed. Monitoring of protective clothing worn by the two individuals involved revealed that there was slight radioactive contamination on their overshoes. Subsequent monitoring by AWE medical staff has confirmed that the two individuals received radiation dose levels equivalent to a small fraction of the annual permissible dose limit. External monitoring outside the building has confirmed that there was no release of radioactive material into the environment. As part of normal procedure the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last full safety assessment of the A45 building at Aldermaston was made.
§ Mr. AitkenThe safety of all buildings at AWE Aldermaston, including A45, is under constant review. A full safety assessment of building A45 was conducted in late 1988 and further safety reviews of the facility have been carried out at regular intervals.