Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Friday, 16 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 20 March 2012. It was answered by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Power Stations: Safety

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by the RAF Regiment radiation monitoring team in Japan following the accident at Fukushima in March 2011; and what the cost was of the deployment of this team.

Answer: A three-man RAF Regiment radiation monitoring team, along with a Ministry of Defence health physicist, deployed to the British embassy in Tokyo from 21 March to 21 April 2011. They conducted air and soil sampling around the embassy and local area and monitored equipment and vehicles for contamination to advise and reassure embassy staff. The team also devised plans to protect UK personnel working at the embassy in the event of a further release from Fukushima.The team were tasked solely on a UK national basis to support British embassy staff and to assist with providing advice to British citizens in Japan.The cost to the MOD was approximately £20,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 101255; 542 c1055W
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Accidents Japan Nuclear power stations Safety Military aid RAF Regiment Tsunami
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk