§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which counties of the UK have been most affected by radiological leaks from Sellafield. [77545]
§ Margaret BeckettI have been asked to reply.
There have been a small number of radiological leaks from Sellafield. Although these have not been radiologically significant, the Environment Agency 391W monitors such events closely and takes appropriate regulatory action. The areas affected are close to Sellafield in Cumbria. No other counties have been affected.
§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which recent representation she has had from Nordic countries on radiological pollution from Sellafield. [77543]
§ Margaret BeckettI have been asked to reply.
Over the past 18 months, the Government have received a number of representations from Nordic countries about discharges of technetium-99 from Sellafield. My Department, jointly with the Department of Health, has responsibility for the regulatory regime under which such discharges are controlled.
Representations have been received from both the Governments of Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden and organisations representing fisheries industries in Scandinavia. The representations have centred on concerns that technetium-99, which does not occur naturally but is discharged from Sellafield, can be detected at very low levels, in marine organisms off the coasts of Scandinavian countries. All radioactive discharges from a site such as Sellafield have to be made within the limits of discharge authorizations set by the Environment Agency. The current levels of discharge of technetium-99 are well within the relevant discharge limit. At Ministers' request, the Environment Agency has recently reviewed the discharges of technetium-99 and made recommendations about how its discharge limit could be further reduced. The Government is currently considering its response to the Agency's recommendations.