asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether ambulance staff have participated in the exercise at the local emergency plan at Chapelcross, Sellafield, Wylfa, Trawsfyndd, Oldbury, Berkeley, Hinkley Point, Winfrith, Dungeness, Bradwell and Sizewell; and, in each case where units were involved, if he will list which ones participated;(2) if he will list for each of the following power stations what studies have been made of the problems of evacuating all low mobility groups in the event of a worst case atomic accident at Chapelcross, Sellafield, Wylfa, Trawsfyndd, Oldbury, Berkely, Hinkley Point, Winfrith, Dungeness, Bradwell, Sizewell and Hartlepool; and if he will also list for each study the geographical area covered;(3) what specialist equipment, including personal dosimeters, radiac survey meters and decontamination meters are available for ambulance staff at Chapelcross, Sellafield, Wylfa, Trawsfyndd, Oldbury, Berkely, Hinkley Point, Winfrith, Dungeness, Bradford and Sizewell, respectively; and in each case what training staff have received;
(4) what training has been given to ambulance staff to deal with a major accident at each of the following nuclear installations: Chapelcross, Sellafield, Wylfa, Trawsfyndd, Oldbury, Berkely, Hinkley Point, Winfrith, Dungeness, Bradwell, Sizewell and Hartlepool.
[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1987, c. 318–19]: The Central Electricity Generating Board has now amended advice which it earlier gave me. CEGB medical centres, although often colloquially known as ambulance centres, in fact rely on National Health Service ambulances. My reply of 12 February is otherwise unaffected.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when public safety siting criteria for nuclear installations were last changed or updated; what information on such safety criteria has been published by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1987,c. 317–18]: The last decision to change public safety siting criteria was that announced by the then Minister of Power on 6 February 1968, at column 235 of the Official Report. Information on siting criteria has been published by the Health and Safety Executive in its booklet "The Work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, and in the documents referred to therein.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what statistical demographic criteria, for each type of nuclear reactor, are used in Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's assessment of the safety of sites for nuclear power stations; if he will publish a list showing for each existing nuclear power station (a) the relevant limiting criteria compared with (b) the actual population figures in each case; and if he will make a statement.
[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1987,c. 317–18]: The main criteria used by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate cover the population at particular distances from a site, viz:
| Distance | Guideline population | |
| km | MAGNOX | AGR |
| 0 to 2 | 1,400 | 9,000 |
| 2 to 3 | 4,600 | 35,000 |
| 3 to 5 | 16,000 | 113,000 |
| 5 to 8 | 45,000 | 325,000 |
| Distance (km) | ||||
| 0 to 2 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 5 | 5 to 8 | |
| Berkeley | 320 | 2,000 | 7,900 | 8,300 |
| Bradwell | 460 | 190 | 7,200 | 3,900 |
| Calder Hall | 140 | 2,100 | 2,300 | 8,100 |
| Chapelcross | 250 | 410 | 11,000 | 3,100 |
| Dungeness | 60 | 140 | 590 | 6,000 |
| Hinkley Point | 120 | 300 | 1,200 | 2,800 |
| Flunterston | 50 | 100 | 6,400 | 1,400 |
| Oldbury | 250 | 260 | 1,800 | 30,000 |
| Sizewell | 140 | 3,200 | 3,600 | 4,200 |
| Trawsfynydd | 320 | 290 | 1,500 | 5,400 |
| Wylfa | 460 | 730 | 1,100 | 1,600 |
The NII does not necessarily insist on rigid adherence to these criteria but, in addition, takes account of various unquantifiable factors.
Once a site has been accepted for a nuclear station, arrangements are made to ensure that residential and industrial developments are so controlled that the general characteristics of the site are preserved, and that local authorities consult with the inspectorate with regard to any proposed new development which falls outside the guidelines.