§ 15. Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Central Electricity Generating Board has made financial provision in its reserves to cover the expected costs of long-term storage or disposal of radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladAt 31 March 1986 the provision made by the Central Electricity Generating Board for the cost of nuclear waste treatment, storage and disposal, totalled approximately £500 million. The charge to the board's profit and loss account in 1985–86 amounted to some £70 million.
§ Mr. MeadowcroftIs it not the case that there is no provision for compensation payments for the purchasers 768 of private property around the proposed sites for the dumping of low-level nuclear waste? Will the Minister state what additional costs would be required for such provision?
§ Mr. GoodladThe costs of nuclear waste management represent about 0.03p per unit. As a proportion of the overall price paid by consumers in England and Wales, those costs represent less than 1 per cent. of the total price of electricity. I shall examine the point raised by the hon. Gentleman and shall write to him.