HC Deb 24 November 1986 vol 106 cc3-4
3. Mr. Coombs

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to discuss management of nuclear waste reprocessing.

Mr. Peter Walker

I meet the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Coombs

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the substantial progress that has been made by BNFL in reducing the levels of discharges of radioactive material into the Irish sea? Is he also aware that BNFL has made substantial progress in becoming one of the largest yen earners in Britain, and that, indeed, in a few years time it will be on a par with Unilever?

Mr. Walker

Yes, Sir. I am pleased to say that the discharge levels from Sellafield are down to one tenth of what they were in the year before we took office. I am also delighted to say that the potential export orders of BNFL are a considerable proportion and will greatly benefit Britain.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Will the Secretary of State accept not only that discharge levels are down to one tenth of their previous levels, but that by 1991 discharges to the marine environment from Sellafield will be almost zero and will meet the objectives of every green organisation in the United Kingdom? Does he further accept that with the development of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant BNFL will have spent £1.5 billion by 1990 and will have created thousands of jobs in my constituency and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham)? Does he accept that that deserves congratulation?

Mr. Walker

Yes. That shows the difference between those on the Opposition Benches who know what is going on and those who do not. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for pointing out that further major reductions will take effect by 1991. At present, THORP is providing 8,000 jobs directly in the United Kingdom, and BNFL estimates that it will save a further 10,000 jobs in supplier companies each year for the next five years.

Mr. Heifer

While my hon. Friend the Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) may know what is going on and others do not, the fact is that the people on Merseyside, in Ireland and in Northern Ireland are worried about what is happening in the Irish sea. Is it not clear that there must be something better than what is happening at present, because the Irish sea is becoming a nuclear waste pool? [HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense."] It may be nonsense to Conservative Members, but they do not live in the area. Our people on Merseyside are so scared of what is happening nowadays that most of them refuse to go fishing in the area.

Mr. Walker

I am surprised at the hon. Gentleman, because he was a Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry during the period when pollution of the Irish sea was 10 times what it is at present. I hope that he will reflect on the matter and congratulate the Government for so improving the position.

Mr. Heffer

I was not responsible for that.

Mr. Ron Brown

Is it not a fact that under the Labour Government discharges from Sellafield into the Irish sea were at a safe level and being steadily reduced and that if they are now only one tenth that level, they are extremely safe?

Mr. Walker

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the levels are extremely safe.