HL Deb 12 March 1970 vol 308 cc894-5

3.15 p.m.

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will state the manner in which nuclear waste is stored, and whether they are satisfied that the conditions of storage completely safeguard the community against any risk.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY (LORD DELA-COURT-SMITH)

My Lords, high-level liquid nuclear waste is stored in special tanks fabricated from half-inch thick stainless steel and surrounded by thick concrete which also has a stainless steel lining. High level waste in solid form is stored in silos made from concrete. I am satisfied that the conditions of storage are a complete safeguard against risk to the community.

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Can we really be reassured that knowledge of the dangers of this waste is matched by knowledge as to how it should be stored?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, I do not think there is much that I can add to what I have already said, and the satisfaction I have expressed that the conditions of storage are a complete safeguard against risk.

LORD RITCHIE-CALDER

My Lords, can the Minister inform the House as to where this actual storage takes place?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, the tanks and silos in question are at Windscale.

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, is it not true that our security arrangements are better than those of any other country in the world in this respect?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, in this respect I would be averse to entering into comparisons, but I am satisfied, as I said, that the arrangements for storage provide complete safety from the community's point of view.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, may I take it that there is no commercial re-use of this waste material?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, I regret to have to tell the noble Baroness that in the case of the high-level waste with which this Question is concerned, there is not.

LORD RITCHIE-CALDER

My Lords, would the Minister agree that this is a very reassuring reply? Because if we are taking out this high-level waste we are simply scattering it commercially across the world?

LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY

My Lords, does the Minister's satisfaction extend to the full length of time that this waste may be potentially dangerous?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, the arrangements are of course intended to provide that the protection of the community in this respect will be permanent.

LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTER

My Lords, can the Minister advise us whether any research has been carried out into neutralising this waste so that it is not harmful?

LORD DELACOURT-SMITH

My Lords, I am afraid that, without notice, I cannot give details of that.