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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions (a) she and (b) her Department have had with Kerrier district council regarding radon levels in the council's area; [181712] (2) what plans she has to tackle the effects of radon in the Kerrier district council area of Cornwall. [181711] Mr. Morley: Neither I nor the Secretary of State have had discussions with Kerrier district council regarding radon levels in the council's area. However, Department officials met with council representatives on 4 July 2003 to discuss the development of a local action plan to roll out Defra's radon programme in its district. Representatives from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) attended that meeting as the organisations engaged by the Department to support the council on implementing the action plan. I wrote to my hon. Friend on 12 September 2003 about the commencement of the plan, and members of the Department, NRPB and BRE have been working closely with Kerrier district council to help to deliver the action plan since then. Kerrier district council's main actions, supported by the Defra programme, are designed to raise awareness about radon and, in particular, to encourage remedial action in the community. These have included the offer of free radon tests and retests sent to over 31,000 householders living in homes with a greater than 5 per cent. probability of radon levels being at or above the `Action Level' of 200 becquerels per cubic metre of air (Bq m-3). The council is using a mobile exhibition to visit communities in the district in order to raise awareness and offer advice about radon--its health effects and remedial measures. Familiarisation seminars have also been held specifically for council staff, professionals in the housing sector, and local builders and builders merchants. In addition, a series of advice workshops have been run for householders needing to take action to reduce radon levels, to provide advice and guidance on the type of radon remediation that might be most appropriate for their homes. Both NRPB and BRE have been closely involved in helping the council to carry out these actions. I am aware of the dwellings in Kerrier recently discovered, through Defra's programme, to have very high radon levels. The Department, Kerrier district council, NRPB and BRE have been liaising to ensure that the owners of these properties have full access to the support available under Defra's programme, enabling prompt action to be taken to remedy the problem. Once all the results from the radon tests are available, officials will consider the need for another meeting with Kerrier district council, NRPB and BRE to review the work that has been undertaken so far and discuss what further action might reasonably be taken in the light of the results that have been obtained.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

423 c686-7W; 181712;181711

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Cornwall Radiation Radon gas

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk