To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from which persons and bodies he has received responses to the consultation paper on the control of radioactive substances.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Conway) on 6 December, Official Report, column 217.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he proposes to take to control radioactive substances; and if he will make a statement.

The improvements we intend to make to the control of radioactive substances under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 were set out in a consultation document, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, and are incorporated in the Environmental Protection Bill now before the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has had regard to the new ionising regulations in the United States based on proposals by the National Academy of Sciences in drawing up proposals for the control of radioactive substances in the United Kingdom.

The Radioactive Substances Act 1960 provides a comprehensive framework for controlling the keeping, use, accumulation and disposal of radioactive substances. We take into account legislation in other countries in amending United Kingdom legislation where appropriate.