asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will inform the House in view of the level of public concern of the steps which have been taken by his Department to monitor the levels of radioactivity in lambs.
Private Notice Questions. - Radioactivity In Lamb.
My Department at the request of the Nuclear Energy Board, arranged over the past few weeks for the collection and transmission to the board of samples of sheepmeat, including lamb, and other foodstuffs. These samples were required by the board for the determination of radioactivity levels in food as part of their on-going programme of monitoring such levels. Early last week the preliminary results of the tests on lamb and sheepmeat indicated that the radiocaesium levels were of the order of 100 to 500 becquerels per kilogram. These levels were below the internationally agreed action levels of 1,000 becquerels per kilogram and the level of 600 becquerels per kilogram recently agreed within the European Community for the control of imports originating in third countries. One or two of the samples had levels above the 600 becquerels per kilogram.
In latter circumstances, this Department, again at the request of the board, immediately arranged for the collection and transmission for examination of a further 70 to 80 samples of lamb and sheepmeat. These samples are being examined at present and further action, if any, will be taken in the light of the results of these tests.
Since there is grave suspicion, does the Minister think it is a coincidence that this radioactivity in lamb is arising in Cumbria, North Wales and Scotland, the sites of two British nuclear stations and that, though Chernobyl has been blamed, we have no evidence that that is correct? Would the Minister assure the House that the Government will take up this matter with the British authorities straight away in order to get full information from them on the incidence in Cumbria, North Wales and Scotland? I believe there could be a link between the nuclear plants there and the radioactivity levels.
I can reassure the Deputy that the inter-departmental committee will have discussions with our counterparts across the water.
What about iodine?
Can the Minister tell us as to the authenticity or otherwise of these levels that he quoted of 600 and 1,000? Are he and the Government satisified about these levels? Would he agree with me that there is no such thing as a safety level of radioactivity, and this business of inventing 600, whatever you call them, or 1,000, and then finding conveniently that we are under them is just part of the great pretence that is going on about this whole business? Would the Minister care to comment on that aspect of it?
This is the kind of irresponsible statement we have become accustomed to.
Would the Minister care to comment on these levels of 600 or 1,000; what is the source of them and what authenticity have they?
I am totally satisfied. They are internationally accepted levels and we have to go by them.
Accepted by whom?
By the EC. They are established by scientific process.
The Minister did not comment on my question as to whether he would care to say that no particular level of radioactivity in this context can be regarded as safe.
I do not agree.
I envy the Minister his equanimity in this matter. Can he tell us if the EC Commission or any inspectorate of it have played or will play any part in this outbreak of radioactive lamb and mutton in Wales?
The Deputy will have to address that to another Parliament.
For the Minister's information, the Government are taking the position that they are relying on the Community and a Community inspectorate to deal with these matters. I am asking him has anyone in the Commission, any inspector of the Commission, in any way intervened in this situation in Cumbria?
I am informed that our NEB are in constant communication with their counterparts in the EC.
Have the EC, the Commission or any inspectorate of the EC played any part in these recent developments?
I am sure they have, but I cannot say.
Is the Minister aware that the caesium becquerels are cumulative? Is he aware that there is an iodine test which he did not refer to at all in his reply?
The iodine test is not relevant to the question. In regard to the levels, there were incidences in Kilkenny, Sligo and Meath which were marginally over the 600. As a result of that we are having quite a number of extra tests.
Just because it has been said that the iodine test is not relevant does not prove it is not relevant.
Will the Minister not only take up the matter with the British Government but also in the European forum? In view of our important lamb trade, the type of questioning here has been very irresponsible. I tried to approach the matter in a responsible way by asking proper questions.
I can assure the Deputy we will be in contact.