SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing has condemned the Ministry of Defence after its former head of radiation protection policy team said it failed to properly assess the risks and extent of the contamination.

In a news report today, Fred Dawson, who worked for the MoD for 31 years, also said any further work should not be carried out by the body as it has “consistently done all it can to avoid admitting liability for the contamination, which in all probability it caused”.

SNP MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Annabelle Ewing said: "The MoD has consistently failed the people of Dalgety Bay in its handling of this situation.

"How can we trust the MoD to carry out future monitoring of this site when it has repeatedly botched previous attempts to do so?

"It is extremely distressing to hear that monitoring of the site may have been suspended and that what monitoring there has been by the MoD was so inefficient. How is it SEPA have uncovered such high levels of radioactivity when the MoD couldn't. It looks as if the MoD simply didn't look properly because it didn't want to find anything.

"My main concern is the health and safety of people in Fife - but what is the priority of the MoD?

"We need serious action immediately as further delays will only cause misery. The MoD must take their role seriously, deliver a clean-up plan and restore the safety of Dalegty Bay."