HC Deb 06 June 1995 vol 261 c142W
Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing each of the recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive to improve health and safety at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. [26351]

Mr. Freeman

All but one of the Health and Safety Executive's recommendations in its report of October 1994 were for implementation by the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Agreed acceptance criteria for completion of the work have been established with the HSE, and from time to time AWE report progress both to my Department and to the executive. One recommendation was for my Department, and concerned licensing of the AWE sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. As I announced on 23 March,Official Report, column 215, we are moving towards achievement of this during 1997.

Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for public consultation exercises on whether or not the Atomic Weapons Establishment should be granted a nuclear site licence. [26345]

Mr. Freeman

Before deciding upon the appropriateness of issuing a nuclear site licence, the Health and Safety Executive will follow its normal consultation procedures. As well as consulting relevant regulatory authorities it is open to the executive, in accordance with the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, to consult local authorities and other relevant public bodies.

Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the delay in placing full details of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's authorisations for radioactive discharges from the Atomic Weapons Establishment on the public register. [26348]

Mr. Freeman

Authorisations in respect of Atomic Weapons Establishment sites cannot be placed on the public register because they contain classified information. What information can be disclosed is published annually by AWE in its reports on discharges and environmental monitoring and health and safety.

Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Radioactive Waste Management advisory committee's investigation at the Atomic Weapons Establishments will start. [26346]

Mr. Freeman

The Radioactive Waste Management advisory committee has conducted a review of radioactive waste management practices within the Ministry of Defence. As part of this review the chairman and other members visited the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield on 17 and 18 January 1995. The review is complete and no further visits are planned. The committee's report is awaited.