HC Deb 20 March 2000 vol 346 cc410-2W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the reportable accidents and incidents that occurred at(a) BNFL Chapelcross, (b) BNFL Calderhall, (c) BNFL Springfields and (d) BNFL Capenhurst since 1992–93; and if he will breakdown the figures by (i) fatalities, (ii) major injuries, (iii) other injuries, (iv) dangerous occurrences and (v) disease. [113309]

Mrs. Liddell

The tables contain information on accidents and incidents reported to HSE since 1992–93 at specified BNFL premises. Brief details of events occurring at licensed nuclear sites relating to nuclear safety are published in the site Quarterly Reports, which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

1. Notifications are made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases

and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and their

predecessors.

Table 1A: Chapelcross
Fatal Major injuries Other injuries Dangerous occurrence Diseases
1992–93 0 0 5 1 0
1993–94 0 1 0 0 0
1994–95 0 0 3 0 0
1995–96 0 0 3 3 0
1996 0 0 1 3 1
1997 0 0 2 2 0
1998 0 1 1 1 0
1999 0 1 2 2 0
2000 0 0 0 1 0
Table 1B: Calderhall
Fatal Major injuries Other injuries Dangerous occurrence Diseases
1992–93 0 0 7 3 0
1993–94 0 0 4 0 0
1994–95 0 1 9 0 0
1995–96 0 1 6 3 0
1996–97 0 0 2 0 0
Table 1B: Calderhall
Fatal Major injuries Other injuries Dangerous occurrence Diseases
1996 0 1 2 0 0
1997 0 0 0 0 1
1998 0 0 0 0 0
1999 0 0 0 1 0
2000 0 0 0 0 0
Table 1C: Capenhurst
Fatal Major injuries Other injuries Dangerous occurrence Diseases
1992–93 0 0 4 1 1
1993–94 0 0 12 0 0
1994–95 0 1 5 0 1
1995–96 0 0 4 1 0
1996–97 0 0 0 0 0
1996 0 0 0 0 0
1997 0 0 1 1 0
1998 0 1 2 0 0
1999 0 2 1 0 0
2000 0 0 0 0 0
Table 1D: Springfields
Fatal Major injuries Other injuries Dangerous occurrence Diseases
1992–93 0 8 39 3 0
1993–94 0 1 40 1 0
1994–95 0 5 25 2 2
1995–96 0 2 10 0 0
1996–97 0 0 7 1 0
1996 0 1 14 1 1
1997 0 7 5 2 0
1998 0 3 7 8 0
1999 0 2 6 3 0
2000 0 0 2 0 1

Note:

The Health and Safety Executive transferred responsibility for enforcement of the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 at licensed nuclear installations from its Field Operations Directorate to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in August 1996. The figures up to August 1996 are recorded by financial year and those after are recorded by calendar year.

2. Notification of nuclear events to HM Nuclear Installations

Inspectorate in accordance with the Nuclear Installations Act 1965

(as amended) and published in the sites' Quarterly Report.

Table 2
Site Event Date
Chapelcross Employee momentarily exposed to radiation from irradiated fuel element 25 May 1993
Chapelcross Defect in heat exchanger 1 June 1997

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the EU Environment Commissioner in respect of the application of the provisions of Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty to Sellafield. [114088]

Mrs. Liddell

None.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of communications between his Department's Director General for Energy and the atomic energy counsellor in the British Embassy in Tokyo made since 1 August 1999. [114082]

Mrs. Liddell

Communications between the British Embassy in Tokyo and energy policy officials in my Department constitute information whose disclosure would harm the frankness of internal discussion, and as such are exempt under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of his Department's Director General for Energy's visit to Japan on 7–10 February; and under which budget sub-head costs were met. [114085]

Mrs. Liddell

The cost of the Director General for Energy and other Department of Trade and Industry officials' visit to Japan on 7–10 February was in the region of £23,000.

I understand that these costs are to be met by my Department's Running Cost budget sub-head.

Dr. Jack Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Nolan Rules on public appointments apply to non-executive directors of British Nuclear Fuels; and if he will make a statement. [115067]

Mrs. Liddell

I can confirm that all appointments, and re-appointments, of non-executive directors to the Board of BNFL are subject to the Code and Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.