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Windscale (Radioactive Contamination)

Volume 922: debated on Friday 17 December 1976

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asked the Secretary of State for Energy on what date British Nuclear Fuels called in officials of the Health and Safety Executive; on what date the company notified the Secretary of State for the Environment; and on what date the company issued a public statement about the recent leak.

I am advised that British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. informed the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive about the suspected leakage at Windscale on 22nd October 1976, and officials of the Department of the Environment on 27th October. The company made a public statement on 9th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what code of practice he intends to adopt regarding procedures to be followed by British Nuclear Fuels for notification of future incidents involving radioactive leakages;(2) if the recently reported seepage of contaminated water at Windscale was below the level of radioactivity to necessitate a report to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate; what are the minimum levels for a report to be required; and if he is satisfied with the existing criteria.

I am advised that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is informed of incidents at licensed nuclear sites involving radioactivity that affect or could affect the health or safety of workers or members of the public. The contamination found at Windscale on 10th October was not in this category. I am advised that the existing criteria provide the necessary protection for workpeople and the public, but, as I have already stated, I am making arrangements to ensure that I am immediately informed when incidents, however apparently insignificant, occur on nuclear installations for whose safety I am answerable to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many accidents have occurred at Windscale since it first came into production which have not been immediately reported to successive Ministers; what has been the time lag in passing on such information; and what reasons were recorded at the time.

I have already asked for a record of incidents that have occurred at the Windscale site and will make this available to the House.