asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a list showing the number of any notifiable incidents reported to Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in each year since 1970 where such incidents involved a flask designed to transport nuclear fuel; whether reporting criteria for such incidents have been changed in the period; whether reporting criteria differ between incidents occurring inside and outside nuclear sites; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Since 1970 the number of notifiable incidents relating to fuel flasks on nuclear sites has been:

	Number
1970 to 1973	none
1974	none
1975	none
1976	2
1977	5
1978	2
1979	4
1980	6
1981 to 1983	none
1984	1
1985 to 1986	none

Up to 1976, incidents were reported to comply with site licence conditions and the Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1963. In 1976, under arrangements announced by the Secretary of State for energy on 2 February at column 210, the reporting criteria were extended to include incidents of lesser significance. Modifications to those criteria were announced by the Under-Secretary of State for Energy on 26 July 1982 at column 374.Those arrangements relate to incidents on nuclear sites. Transport-related incidents off site are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.