§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's programme to clean up and restore sites where radium372W luminising has taken place, indicating the location of each site, the steps taken to decontaminate the site and the cost to date of restoration work. [3979]
§ Mr. SoamesRadium luminising took place during the 1940s and 1950s prior to the introduction of controls under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. No record of facilities or sites specifically engaged in this work were therefore maintained, but where past practices involving the use of radium luminised materials have resulted in contamination of the site, this is addressed as part of the land quality assessment—LQA—process with decontamination being undertaken where necessary.
A prioritised LQA programme for the Defence estate is being prepared, with high priorities assigned to sites where there are plans for significant change of use, including sale, or where contamination is suspected. Where radium contamination is identified in an LQA, the need for clean-up and remediation will be determined, taking into account the future use of the site. This will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis.
The steps to decontaminate a site will depend on the circumstances, but in all cases such work is in accordance with relevant legislation. Contaminated arisings are disposed of in accordance with letters of agreement issued by the environmental agencies and their predecessors.
The cost restoration work could be provided only at disproportionate cost.