Written question asked by Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic & Labour Party), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 December 1996. It was answered by Paul Beresford (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 December 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: What restrictions are placed on the Health and Safety Executive in respect of providing information to local authorities on accidents at the THORP reprocessing plant without the consent of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Answer: Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are placed on the Health and Safety Executive in respect of providing information to local authorities on accidents at THORP without the consent of British Nuclear Fuels plc. [9146] Sir Paul Beresford: The Health and Safety Executive may release such information to an officer of a local authority authorised to receive it, where HSE has acquired the information under statutory requirements. However, HSE would normally make the information available only if there was a health and safety purpose in doing so. Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 contains restrictions on the release of information obtained under statutory requirements or in the exercise of inspectors' powers. Associations of local authorities, unlike individual local authorities, do not fall within the exemptions from these restrictions.

Secondary information