Written question asked by Joan Walley (Labour) on Thursday, 14 October 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 October 1999. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Monday, 25 October 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement in respect of safety issues arising from the plutonium shipment involving the Pacific Teal and Pacific Pintail.

Answer: Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement in respect of safety issues arising from the plutonium shipment involving the "Pacific Teal" and "Pacific Pintail". [94715] Mr. Hill: Mixed oxide fuel is transported in packages that have been approved as meeting the national regulations and international safety standards covering the transport of radioactive materials by sea. The "Pacific Pintail" and the "Pacific Teal" already meet the highest requirements of the International Maritime Organisation's "Code for the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel", "Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes in Flasks on board Ships" ("INF Code").

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 94715; 336 c670W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Japan Radioactive materials Transport Safety Shipping Plutonium Mixed oxide fuel MV Pacific Pintail MV Pacific Teal