asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to establishing a series of permanent radiation monitoring stations in the Highlands and Islands.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, North (Sir T. Skeet) on 30 June, at columns 65–67 in which she announced the framework of a new national plan for responding to radioactivity incidents which may occur outwith the United Kingdom. The monitoring network which will be set up under the plan will consist of more than 80 fixed stations for the initial detection and measurement of radioactivity, of which about 15 are likely to be in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.