asked Her Majesty's Government:

The information sought by the noble Lord is as follows: —

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the fact (recorded in Table 8(b) of the Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland for the year to 31st December 1982 (Cmnd 8953)) that, in respect of crimes involving violence, indecency, dishonesty or malicious and reckless conduct, the "clear up" rates achieved by the Lothians and Borders police force were only half those achieved by the Northern police force suggests (

In comparing statistics of "clear-up" rates, it is necessary to take account of a wide range of factors—for example, the level of recorded crime is generally higher in urban areas and "clear-up" rates correspondingly lower. Variations in the mix of crimes between forces can also result in different "clear-up" rates: some crimes are easier to solve than others. Chief constables recognise the need to standardise recording practice, but I do not believe that variations in such practice support the last of the noble Lord's suggestions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the EEC has yet produced its grant to Lundy Island; and if not, why not.

The Commission announced the approval of £40,200 grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund towards the cost of the Lundy Island aerogenerator project on 15th June. A claim for payment from the National Trust is expected soon.

of Ilton asked Her Majesty's Government:If it will make a statement about recent allegations concerning radioactive material emanating from the British Nuclear Fuels plant at Sellafield and its possible connection with public health in West Cumbria.

Recent media reports, including a Yorkshire Television programme last night, have discussed the levels of radioactivity in the neighbourhood of the BNFL works at Sellafield and in particular have drawn attention to an apparently high incidence of cancer among children and young people. The reports have linked this with the discharges of radioactive substances from the Sellafield works.Her Majesty's Government appreciate the natural concern aroused by these reports. They have not indicated levels of radioactivity out of line with those recorded in previous monitoring, and the radiological significance of the levels quoted has been exaggerated. It is none the less right that we should take seriously any evidence of an abnormally high rate of cancer even though such evidence is difficult to assess.The National Radiological Protection Board are working closely with Oxford University on studies into the incidence of leukaemia clusters and other cancers. This may well contribute to our evaluation of the situation at Seascale. In addition, the Secretary of State for Social Services has invited the distinguished medical scientist Sir Douglas Black, who is a former President of the Royal College of Physicians, to consider the evidence concerning the alleged cluster in the neighbourhood of Sellafield and its causation, to determine the need for any further research and to make recommendations.The discharges at Sellafield are subject to regular monitoring and stringent control. Authorisation issued by my department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 imposes definite limits on the amount of radioactivity in discharges and controls the most significant individual substances. It has for some time been an aim of the authorising departments to reduce the discharges of the most significant substances. At their instigation, BNFL are constructing SIXEP, a site ion exchange effluent treatment plant. This plant, which is likely to cost over £80m, is planned to come into operation in 1984 and will bring about a reduction of caesium discharged to the sea to one tenth of the maximum released in recent years. Meanwhile caesium discharges have already been halved as a result of interim measures. The new authorisation issued when the plant is ready will oblige the company to limit discharges of caesium and certain other substances to levels as low as reasonably achievable within the limits set.It has also been our aim to secure big reductions in discharges of plutonium and other alpha emitters. Over the past 10 years BNFL has achieved a reduction of 80 per cent. in these discharges. Last year authorising departments informed BNFL, and they accepted, that recent levels of discharge of these substances, which accumulate in seabed sediments, should be further reduced as soon as practicable. The departments have put forward a draft authorisation which would have the effect of reducing the actual level of such discharges to about 200 curies a year. That is about one quarter of the amount released last year and one thirtieth of the total at present author ised. The aim is to have the necessary plant in operation in 1985.Her Majesty's Government will continue to ensure that all necessary action is taken to keep discharges within the recognised safety limits. In addition, we will be considering in the light of technological developments whether yet further reductions should be sought. In this we will take full account of authoritative independent advice from the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC).

asked Her Majesty's Government:When, in view of alarm at the increasing use of roads in inner London and the suburbs by juggernaut lorries, they expect the completion of the M.25: and what other measures are contemplated.

Subject to the successful completion of outstanding statutory procedures, the M.25 should be completed during 1986. This will have a significant effect on reducing through lorry traffic in London. The department also has a substantial trunk road programme to benefit Greater London, including improvements to the North Circular Road and its extension to the M.2 via a new East London river crossing and other schemes serving the development of docklands. Our proposals for the reallocation of highways and traffic responsibilities in London, published on 7th October, make clear our intention to extend the key trunk routes serving London. Traffic management on non-trunk road is currently a GLC responsibility and they are now giving detailed consideration to the feasibility of a London-wide night time and weekend ban on heavy lorries, following receipt of the Wood Report. Local authorities are expected to use their powers to control lorries through the designation of lorry routes in a selective way which balances the needs of industry and commerce with the need to preserve a decent environment. We await the GLC's proposals with interest.