§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Energy how much foreign exchange has been earned by British Nuclear Fuels Limited by reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuel from reactors other than in the United Kingdom over the last five years; and how much he expects will be so earned in the five years to 1980.
§ Mr. BennIn the years 1971–75 foreign exchange earnings by British Nuclear Fuels Limited from the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels amounted to £9 million. In the years 1976–80 it is estimated that earnings from existing reprocessing contracts will be £34 million.
628W
§ Mr. John FraserThe latest available information on the numbers of manual and non-manual workers covered by various types of voluntary collective bargaining arrangements is from the 1973 New Earnings Survey. The following are, therefore, estimates of the total numbers of males and females who were in employment in April 1973 and who were reported by their employers as being affected by various types of collective agreement.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many countries are currently sending quantities of irradiated nuclear fuel to the United Kingdom for reprocessing; and in respect of how many the relevant contracts specify that the radioactive residues are to be returned to the territory of the sender for storage.
§ Mr. BennBritish Nuclear Fuels Limited is currently receiving irradiated nuclear fuel for reprocessing from Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland under contracts signed over the last seven years. None of these contracts includes provision for the radioactive waste to be returned to the country of origin. Up to 1990 the waste concerned would add about 10 per cent. to the quantity arising from the United Kingdom's own nuclear programme.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Energy when the next consignment of irradiated nuclear fuel is due to be sent from Japan to Windscale for reprocessing; and what quantity will be involved.
§ Mr. BennA consignment of irradiated fuel left Japan this month for delivery to Windscale for reprocessing. The 629W consignment consists of fuel containing 30 tons of uranium.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Energy what precautions are being taken to ensure that there is no leakage during the storage of the nuclear waste from Japan before it is processed.
§ Mr. BennIrradiated nuclear fuel from Japan and certain European countries constitutes a small addition to that arising from the United Kingdom nuclear power programme. The fuel is processed at the Windscale Works of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., which is a licensed site under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. Conditions attached to the licence, which is granted by the Health and Safety Executive, provide the necessary safeguards for the storage, handling and processing of all nuclear material received at Windscale. These conditions are enforced by the Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate which exercises strict control.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether other contracts are being sought for the processing of nuclear waste from Japan, apart from that already announced.
§ Mr. BennNo. Ministers are still considering the proposed Japanese contract.
(Pence per gallon Domestic Heating Oil Fuel Oil Including Tax Excluding Tax Including Tax Excluding Tax United Kingdom … … 23 to 26 22 to 25 16.4 15.4 France … … 30.2 24.6 15.7 15.7 Germany … … 28.9 25.3 14.3 13.1 Italy … … 25.4 21.8 16.1 15.8 Netherlands … … 28.8 22.2 14.8 13.7 The only known change in price between 1st September 1975—given in answer to a previous Question on 24th October—and 1st October 1975 is for domestic heating oil in France. All other changes to the above figures result from differences in exchange rates on 20th October 1975 and 1st October 1975.