HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc207-8W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been released by the Government concerning the accident at Greenham Common airbase on 28 February 1958; what recent reassessment he has carried out of the validity of the conclusions of the 1961 Aldermaston report on the accident; and what are the current health implications of that accident. [39134]

Mr. Soames

To detail all of the information released by the Government relating to this accident, which occurred almost 40 years ago, would involve disproportionate cost. My Department has recently released two previously classified reports on radioactivity measurements in the Greenham Common area and an unclassified report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The National Radiological Protection Board has carried out an independent assessment of the findings of the 1961 Aldermaston report and considered also the later reports published in 1986 and 1994. The NRPB announced on 18 July that if the data in the 1961 report are correct, the indications are that the radiological impact would have been negligible. The NRPB will also be carrying out a limited programme of measurements to provide further reassurance. We believe that the levels quoted in the 1961 report are well below any public health significance, and no subsequent monitoring in the area has found any elevated measurements.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 484, if he will place in the Library a copy of the paper on uranium and plutonium contamination around the Greenham Common airforce base when it is released to the Public Record Office. [39053]

Mr. Soames

Copies of the 1961 report have already been placed in the Library of the House, together with copies of a reassessment report on the 1961 findings, prepared in 1986.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 July,Official Report, column 485, if he will list by date and locations the seven category one accidents involving nuclear weapons to which he refers; and if he will provide details in each case. [39052]

Mr. Soames

No. It remains our policy neither to confirm nor to deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any particular time or place.