HL Deb 03 June 2003 vol 648 cc149-50WA
Lord Faulkner of Worcester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is still their intention to impose a moratorium on the discharge of technetium-99 into the Irish Sea from Sellafield. [HL2759]

Lord Whitty:

In December of last year, we consulted on a proposal to direct the Environment Agency to consider whether it would be possible to impose a moratorium on the discharge of technetium-99 pending the introduction of abatement technology based on the use of the chemical TPP. A number of responses from interested parties have been received, some containing new information, and further scientific analysis of this information is currently being carried out. Once that analysis has been completed, we will decide whether to direct the Environment Agency as we had proposed. We hope to make an announcement in the early summer.