§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Power what is the extent of waste from nuclear power stations; where it is 63W stored; how long it is likely to remain virulent; what is the estimated expense of its disposal; and what is the estimated cost of storing the waste until its virulence fades.
§ Mr. FreesonThe only radioactive waste stored on station sites is solid waste, with a half-life ranging from a few days to a few years. This is accumulated in suitable vaults, as authorised by my right hon. Friend. No station has as yet exhausted the storage capacity provided for solid waste, and most are far below capacity. It is not practicable to separate the cost of accumulating waste from the general capital and running costs of a station.