§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-submarine Z-berths there are currently in Scottish coastal waters; which ones have been used in the last 10 years, and when; and if he will make a statement. [28076]
§ Mr. SoamesThe table sets out the usage of Z-berths in Scotland during the period 1992 to 1994. Figures prior to 1992 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 1995 are not yet available.
Scottish Z-berth usage in days 1992 to 1994 Z-berth 1992 1993 1994 Broadford bay 0 0 0 Brodick bay 0 0 0 Campbeltown 0 0 1 Coulport 51 94 66 Dales Voe 0 0 0 Dalgety bay 0 0 0 Firth of Forth 0 0 0 Glen Mallan 0 0 0 Holy loch 0 0 0 Lerwick 0 0 0 Loch Ewe 0 0 0 Loch Goil 3 14 14 Loch Striven 0 0 0 Portree 0 1 0 Raasay 0 0 0 Rothesay 0 3 0
§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what monitoring he undertakes of the potential environmental impact of nuclear submarine Z-berths in Scottish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement; [28075]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential environmental impact of nuclear submarine Z-berths in Scottish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement. [28074]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe Defence Radiological Protection Service—DRPS—regularly monitors areas around UK establishments that support submarine operations to demonstrate that nuclear powered warship operation is neither harming the environment nor resulting in unacceptable levels of public radiation exposure.
DRPS surveys are complemented by the marine radioactivity monitoring programme undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which publishes its findings independently.