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Body parts checks at Scots site Body parts checks at nuclear site
(40 minutes later)
The operator of a Scottish nuclear site has begun checks on whether organs were removed from former workers without the consent of their families.The operator of a Scottish nuclear site has begun checks on whether organs were removed from former workers without the consent of their families.
It follows claims that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s.It follows claims that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) said it was looking into whether there were any connections to Dounreay. The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) said it was looking into whether there was any connection to Dounreay.
Prospect union said it was "equally concerned" to establish if parts were stored or taken from Dounreay.Prospect union said it was "equally concerned" to establish if parts were stored or taken from Dounreay.
It has called for an inquiry into the storage of body parts from deceased former employees of the Cumbrian nuclear plant to be extended to Scotland.
Prospect said it was unclear whether a similar practice had taken place at Dounreay in Caithness.
Parts were stored at Sellafield have not got an identification of the individuals they were removed from Prospect spokesman
The GMB union said that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s.
Prospect said any inquiry into Sellafield should also include other sites, including those in Scotland.
Dounreay was a former experimental reactor facility and is in the process of being decommissioned by the UKAEA.
Asked if the practice at Sellafield happened at Dounreay, a Prospect spokesman said: "We are equally as concerned to establish that ourselves.
"Parts were stored at Sellafield have not got an identification of the individuals they were removed from."
He said body parts may have been transported from other sites to be stored at Sellafield.
Claims that nuclear workers who died in the 1960s and 70s had body parts removed without consent are to be discussed in the House of Commons.
Independent investigation
The GMB union said that samples were taken from up to 70 former employees at Sellafield.
British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which owns Sellafield, confirmed autopsy material had been used for "legally correct" purposes such as inquests.British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which owns Sellafield, confirmed autopsy material had been used for "legally correct" purposes such as inquests.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling is to make a statement later. Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has just made a statement on the matter.
He is expected to say he will appoint a QC to lead an independent investigation into the claims. He has asked Michael Redfern, QC, who conducted the Alder Hey inquiry, to investigate the matter.
Experimental reactor
Prospect has called for that inquiry to be extended to Scotland.
It said it was unclear whether a similar practice had taken place at Dounreay, a former experimental reactor facility, in Caithness.
Asked if the practice at Sellafield happened at Dounreay, a Prospect spokesman said: "We are equally as concerned to establish that ourselves."
He said body parts may have been transported from other sites to be stored at Sellafield.
Tests were carried out between the 1960s and 1990s, said BNFL
The GMB union, which said that samples were taken from up to 70 former Sellafield employees who died in the 1960s, said Dounreay had not been brought to its attention.
However, a spokesman said an inquiry would "double check" if the site was involved.
John Walford, who worked at Dounreay in the 1950s and was head of its health and safety division for 10 years until he retired in 1990, said he was not aware of body parts being removed from former workers without consent, or being stored at the facility.
He told BBC Scotland: "There was a very small handlful of people known to me who bequeathed their bodies after death for medical research and this happens of course in the population at large."