Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Monday, 21 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 July 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department will take to ensure that the incident of radioactive water vapour emitted into the atmosphere on 9th June at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station does not harm the environment. - (Holding answer 29 June 2004).

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department will take to ensure that the incident of radioactive water vapour emitted into the atmosphere on 9 June at Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station does not harm the environment. [180302] Mr. Morley :[holding answer 29 June 2004]: A small, unplanned release of radioactivity from the Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station occurred on 9 June as a result of a leak from a pump. It is not expected that the annual limits for this site for the radionuclides involved will be breached as a result of this incident. The Environment Agency has kept the releases to the environment under close review and an initial assessment indicates that the environmental impact has not been significant. The Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident and are considering what further action, if any, may be necessary.

Secondary information