Question reference: S5W-29888
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 15 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 July 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the work that it carries out with local authorities regarding emergency planning, what assessment it has made of the steps that councils have taken to inform the general public about the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019.
Answer
The requirement for local authorities to test their response to off-site nuclear emergencies and to warn and inform the public is reserved to the UK Government.
REPPIR 2019 is subject to independent oversight from the Office of Nuclear Regulation and the Health and Safety Executive, including formal assessments of compliance.
Whilst Scottish Government officials do not make any formal assessment of Local Authorities warning and informing duty under the act they closely engage with them through site planning groups and public stakeholder groups and encourage engagement on communities’ concerns.
In the public groups, briefing information is delivered by operators, regulators and local authorities about current issues relating to the site / off-site planning zones. Submissions to these meetings are scrutinised by all attendees including the general public and their Elected Members who are invited to ask questions or raise issues.