Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him and his officials on a splendid speech which has given me more insight into nuclear power than I had before the debate began. The Government has been very wise in actively pursuing the issue of Sellafield, as have previous Governments which took up this issue. As well as monitoring Sellafield, however, will the Minister ensure we keep an eye on an even greater nuclear danger to us, that is the situation regarding Chernobyl? When the Chernobyl explosion took place almost 20 years ago, there was evidence of radiological fallout in this country, and particularly in Wales, which is nearer to Sellafield than Ireland. Distance does not always make something safer.

The situation now with Chernobyl appears truly appalling. Apparently, the sarcophagus over the damaged reactor is cracking badly. Worse still, one of the scientists who complained about it has been imprisoned. We should make an objection about this to the Belarus Government because if we cannot get information from its scientists, how will we know what is happening there? Will the Minister support international efforts to try to have reparations made of the sarcophagus, or whatever remedial action is necessary, because it appears we are in a serious situation which could cause dreadful damage?

The Minister will remember that because of a lack of proper organisation of the fire after the explosion, there was considerable loss of life and a considerable spread of radioactive material, including on clothes which were taken away as souvenirs by people all over Russia. I raise this matter now because there are other reactors which could pose a problem and I hope the Minister will support all the EU efforts to have those examined, both within the Russian Republics and any others remaining in eastern Europe.

I find it alarming that in the invasion and occupation of Iraq, the American and British forces did not see fit to secure the nuclear power stations and facilities. Apparently, there has been theft of low-grade radioactive material. For example, the barrels which were used for storing contaminated water were taken by the locals and used for washing their clothes or storing water or food. Apparently, that has already led to the development of leukaemia in some members of the local population. It is dreadful to think that with the terrible damage already done in Iraq by the invasion and occupation, and due to the inadequate precautions taken by the occupying forces in regard to maintaining the integrity of these sites, the local population will suffer even more. We are aware that the UN monitors were allowed in again to examine these sites but they were not allowed to assess what happened to any of the stolen barrels or to take account of the effect of that on the local population. While the Minister is continuing his good work on Sellafield, I hope he will keep those two issues very much to the forefront.

The position regarding Sellafield is important but Chernobyl is important also. It appears to be in a disastrous state. At the same time we must monitor the situation in Iraq regarding the possibility of the theft of nuclear material. We know that nuclear material was taken and sold from sites within the Russian Republic shortly after the breakdown of the federation. These are real concerns. They are not something that just happens in films. They happen every day. I would like to think the Minister would also support the international efforts being made to stop these sort of instances occurring.