Catalogue of blunders

The Agriculture Committee of the House of Commons compiled a report on the response to the fallout from the Chernobyl accident in the United Kingdom. This report is reviewed. The report is critical of the lack of an authoritative central voice giving suitable information about the likely hazards. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is criticised over the failure to monitor some areas adequately. In particular this led to lamb contaminated with caesium reaching the food chain. The failure to predict how long bans on the movement of sheep would have to be in force, is also criticised. The predictions were made using computer models which did not take account of the different soils in upland and lowland areas. The way that caesium-137 remains in the soil over long periods is discussed. The Government is urged to take disciplinary action against MAFF on the grounds that if failed to fulfill its responsibility in a nuclear emergency. (U.K.)