§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) past and (b) present Rosyth Dockyard employees have (i) made a claim for compensation and (ii) been awarded compensation under the Government's compensation scheme. [29438]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 16 February 1998]Former MOD employees and those currently employed by Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited (BRDL) at Rosyth Dockyard are entitled to compensation under the nuclear industry's no fault Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases. My Department joined the scheme in August 1994 and BRDL joined in 1997. Since August 1994, seven compensation claims have been submitted in respect of civilians who have at some time worked at Rosyth, including those now employed by BRDL. No-one has yet been awarded compensation but five of the claims are currently under investigation.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to publicise the health and compensation schemes available to Rosyth Dockyard workers. [29441]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 16 February 1998]MOD joined the nuclear industry's Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases in 1994. Since then the Department has publicised the Scheme to current MOD employees through Defence Council Instructions and is currently considering a number of options for advertising the Scheme more widely to former MOD employees and their families.
MOD civilian workers at Rosyth Royal Dockyard became employees of Babcock Rosyth Defence Limited (BRDL) on 1 April 1987. Ownership of the Dockyard passed to BRDL on January 1997, the same year in which the company became a member of the nuclear industry's Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases. BRDL publicised the scheme in its weekly newsletter of 23 January 1998, a copy of which was issued to all employees.
The Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985 require the Appointed Doctor, a recognised physician appointed by the Health and Safety Executive's Employment Medical Advisory Service, to undertake an annual health review of classified radiation workers. Rosyth Royal Dockyard workers are made aware of the annual health reviews through the company's radiation safety training.
In addition, BRDL issued a Company Notice to all industrial employees on 4 June 1997, publicising the MOD's scheme for the counselling of radiation workers and giving details of the company's own scheme.