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3. FALL-OUT. The contribution made to the overall dose of radioactivity
as a result of fall-out from weapon testing has received most publicity.
For several years the Atomic Energy Authority has kept a continuous
watch on the levels of radioactivity in the atmosphere, rainwater, soil,
and human and animal bones. In 1957 the Agricultural Research Council
was made responsible for monitoring soil, herbage, farm animals, and
milk and other foods, and the Medical Research Council for measurements
of radioactivity in human bone. The Atomic Energy Authority retains
responsibility for the analysis of radioactivity in air and rainwater,
and that Authority, in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and
Local Government, also measures the activity in selected sources of
drinking water.
Countrywide and local surveys now being undertaken involve the
annual collection of several thousand samples of milk, water, green
vegetables, potatoes and flour. These surveys enable the Research
Councils to keep a close and continuous watch on both the general level
of radioactivity (particularly from strontium 90) in the natiornal diet
and also the levels in special areas where deposition is increased by
high rainfall.
4. RADIOACTIVE WASTES
(a) United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Under the Atomic Energy
Authority Act 1954 this Authority may not discharge any radioactive
waste on or from its premises except in accordance with authorisations
given by the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the
Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
(b) Nuclear power stations and private nuclear reactors. When the
Nuclear installations (Licensing and Insurance) Act, 1959 comes
into force these installations will be subject to the same system
of inspection and control by the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as
applies to Atomic Energy Establishments. Pending this legislation
the Central Electricity Generating Board have undertaken to submit
to these controls.
(C) Other discharges of radioactive waste. The only present statutory
controls over discharges of radioactive waste from any other sources
are to be found in general legislation and it is considered that
these controls would be altogether inadequate if the use of radioactive
substances were to become widespread. On the 17th July
1959 the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister
for Welsh Affairs made the following statement in the House of
Commons:-
"The Government have accepted recommendations by an expert
Committee that the discharge of radioactive wastes should be
under government control. It is proposed that the temporary
control which now applies to discharges of radioactive waste
from establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority, and which
will by the Nuclear Installations (Licensing and Insurance)
Act, 1959, apply to certain other types of nuclear installations,
should be made permanent. It is also proposed that other
discharges should require an authorisation from the appropriate
Minister, and that a system of registration of users of radioactive
substances should be introduced.
The Departments concerned are discussing with the interested
bodies the means of implementing these proposals I hope to
make a more detailed statement later".