§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many radiation monitoring stations there are in Northern Ireland; what plans he has to establish further stations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tim SmithThe gamma dose rate in air is measured at 49 fixed coastal locations on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to the monitoring of locally caught seafood and sediments from the intertidal areas. The results of this monitoring show that radioactivity levels measured are of no radiological significance to the health of the Northern Ireland population and these results have been confirmed by monitoring undertaken by the Northern Ireland radiation monitoring committee, representing district councils in the Province. In recent years, joint surveys undertaken by my Department and colleagues in the Republic of Ireland, into radioactivity levels in Foyle and Carlingford loughs, also confirm that levels are very low. My Department's environmental monitoring programme is under continual review and we are committed to providing public reassurance and information in this way.
In addition to these local measures, under RIMNET —the radiation incident monitoring network, designed to give early warning in the event of an overseas nuclear emergency—five continuous stations are operational in the Province.