Gordon Brown has claimed the “suppression” of a report into radioactivity at a Fife beach has put public safety and child health at risk.
The former PM and Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP revealed details of the independent report, which is due to be published next week, and accused ministers of a dereliction of duty.
Mr Brown called for cancer checks because of possible changes in radiation dose rates.
He claimed the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health knew months ago they should be putting up further signs across “extensive areas” at Dalgety Bay to warn of the dangers for children playing near the beach. Instead, he said, they chose to delay publication of the report.
Published formally next week, the 75-page document says: “We need further work to determine how significant a risk resulting from skin contact is particularly for children.”
The report exposes the fact that “current contamination is more widespread and is not fixed” and also says current monitoring equipment is “not good enough for detection” of radiation. In addition it asserts the current programme to identify and retrieve radiation particles is “not cost effective or sustainable in the long term”.
If nothing is done the report declares there will be “a spread of contamination”. It also says “failure to take action to implement an engineered solution will prolong the situation and the attendant risks to the public while also incurring ongoing costs for an indefinite period into the future.”
The report, which was compiled by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), also recommends that parents should not allow children to dig in the beach area, revealed Mr Brown.
Periodic reviews of the dose rate should take place.
While there is no evidence of bone and brain cancer now, the report states, there should be a review of cancer rates in 5-10 years’ time.
Mr Brown said: “I have put down urgent questions. There has been a dereliction of duty. There should have been immediate action on the report not its suppression for months on end.
“I want an explanation of why no action was taken immediately on child health and on advising urgent action on cleaning up the area.”
The SNP said it welcomed the news “that the MoD has been forced to abandon attempts to block” the report warning that radioactive contamination of military sites including Dalgety Bay could pose a risk.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Annabelle Ewing said: “This is a very welcome decision and marks a new stage hopefully the beginning of the end in the process that local residents of Dalgety Bay have had to put up with.
“The MoD should never have tried to suppress this report in the first place and their culture of secrecy over issues concerning radioactivity does not inspire confidence. But we are where we are and the priority now is to the residents of Dalgety Bay.
“Local residents and Fifers from across the kingdom have been waiting decades for the MoD to clean up this mess.
“A SEPA investigation last year found the MoD is solely responsible for the contamination. They must now accept that and have the site cleaned as soon as possible.”
A Government spokesman said: “The advice from Public Health England, formerly the Health Protection Agency, has consistently been that the risk to the local community at Dalgety Bay from the presence of radium is very low.
“We are committed to ensuring that those living locally continue to receive the best possible advice which is why we have worked closely with COMARE to ensure the report’s findings are based on the most comprehensive and up to date information available.
“The draft report has been shared with the Scottish Government and Scottish Environment Protection Agency so the local community can continue to receive the most appropriate advice and any necessary action can be taken.
“The report will be published as soon as possible.”