§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the quantity of radioactive waste available from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority establishments and nuclear power stations on an annual basis; and how it is disposed of.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsDetails of radioactive wastes disposed of from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority establishments are summarised annually by the authority. The disposals from nuclear power stations are included in environmental monitoring reports which are issued to members of the local liaison committee for each power station. I am sending to my hon. Friend extracts from these two sources for the year 1971, which can be taken as typical. The processing of figures for 1972 is not yet complete.
All these radioactive wastes are disposed of in accordance with authorisations granted by Ministers.
Gaseous discharges, after treatment where necessary, are released to the atmosphere. Low-activity liquid wastes are normally discharged direct to watercourses or the sea. In both cases considerable dilution occurs after release to the environment. Depending on their nature and activity, solid wastes are stored, disposed of by burial on special sites which are monitored, or dumped at sea under internationally agreed conditions.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering setting up a special agency to 68W dispose of nuclear waste, in view of health and environmental requirements.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsUnited Kingdom policy for the control of radioactive waste disposal is based on the recommendations stated in a White Paper (Cmnd. 884) presented to Parliament in 1959, which were given effect in the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.
The 1960 Act controls, operated by central Government, ensure that disposals of radioactive waste neither add significantly to radioactivity in the general environment nor give rise to a public health hazard, and there does not appear to be any need to change them.