Nuclear Submarines

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Ministerial Corrections

[Mr Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that within the circle of nuclear experts—it is quite a small circle—there has already been discussion on these issues in the past two years. There is no requirement to notify level 0 events, but we did notify the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, of course, the military nuclear regulator. It is important to note that SEPA’s primary focus is on emissions from the site—that is, what is in the discharge from the site—and there has been no measurable change in the radiation discharge. That is the important point for people living in those communities.

[Official Report, 6 March 2014, Vol. 576, c. 1085.]

An error has been identified in the answer given to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Miller) on 6 March 2014.

The correct answer should have been:

[Mr Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that within the circle of nuclear experts—it is quite a small circle—there has already been discussion on these issues in the past two years. There is no requirement to notify level 0 events, but we did notify the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, of course, the military nuclear regulator. It is important to note that SEPA’s primary focus is on emissions from the site—that is, what is in the discharge from the site—and there has been no measurable change in the alpha-emitting particulate discharge. That is the important point for people living in those communities.