§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the circumstances whereby a package of radioactive iridium was discovered at Stansted Airport. [83123]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI understand that this package, which was misdirected from the United States, arrived at Stansted Airport on Saturday 24 April 1999, as part of a normal shipment of radioactive material, and was placed in Federal Express's radioactive material store. When it was recognised that this package did not belong in the United Kingdom, the consignor was contacted and its proper destination ascertained. The package was returned to the United States on Monday 26 April 1999. At no time did it leave the control of Federal Express during its brief stay in the United Kingdom. The material was correctly contained in a package approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Department of Transportation in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Class 7) which governs the international transport of dangerous goods by air. I also understand that the package bore the appropriate markings and the correct labels, enabling it to be properly and safely handled. I would emphasise that the package at no time posed any threat to the health of workers, the public or to the environment.
The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the circumstances of how the package came to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action was taken to safeguard (a) human health and (b) the environment following the discovery of a radioactive package of iridium at Stansted Airport. [83132]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 4 May 1999]: On arrival at Stansted Airport, the package was placed in a dedicated and licensed radioactive store of Federal Express where it remained until it was returned to the United States. I understand that the package bore the appropriate markings and the correct labels, enabling it to be properly and safely handled. There was at no time any hazard to human health or to the environment.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the package of iridium found at Stansted Airport was transported there on a passenger-carrying aircraft. [83135]
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§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 4 May 1999]: This package arrived on a Federal Express cargo plane and was similarly returned to the United States on a Federal Express cargo plane.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what hazard warnings there were on the outside of the package of radioactive iridium discovered at Stansted Airport. [83134]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 4 May 1999]: The package which was mistakenly delivered to Stansted Airport bore all the necessary hazard warnings in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Class 7) and with the relevant UK regulations for air transport of dangerous goods (The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1994 SI No. 3187 and Amendments 1996 SI No. 3100 and 1998 SI No. 2536).
The warnings consisted of an indelible trefoil symbol, resistant to the effects of fire and water, plainly marked on the outside of the package, together with two diamond shaped Category III-YELLOW labels on opposite sides of the package. The labels also bear the trefoil symbol, the word "RADIOACTIVE", and give details of the contents, the radioactivity and the Transport Index.