HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc747-8W
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for the dumping of nuclear waste at sites in Scotland.

Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what plans either the Atomic Energy Authority or his Department has to survey, undertake test borings or to establish facilities in Cornwall for the purpose of disposing of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will give an assurance that it is not the intention of the Government to establish sites in Cornwall for the purpose of burying nuclear waste.

Mr. Eadie

Long-lived highly radioactive wastes resulting from the reprocessing of irradiated fuel are at present stored in liquid form under constant surveillance. In the longer term it will be necessary to turn this waste into a form in which it can be safely disposed of. With this in view a process is being developed to convert such waste into a vitrified form which will be highly stable and insoluble in water. it is expected that it will be possible to dispose of such vitrified waste to the deep ocean bed or to deep stable geological strata on land or under the ocean.

In order to investigate these possibilities the .AEA is undertaking a preliminary research programme to investigate granites and other hard rocks. The AEA programme is at the stage of trying to identify suitable sites for granite test drillings, and of examining the suitability of the geological strata against criteria already published by the Institute of Geological Sciences.

The areas to be studied are some crystalline rocks in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; crystalline and hard sedimentary rocks in the Southern Uplands: some ancient rocks in North-West England; and some mudstones and rock-salt deposits in the Cheshire-Welsh border area.

There are no plans to undertake borings in Cornwall, and it is envisaged that existing boreholes there will be used for research purposes aimed at determining the properties of the types of crystalline rocks which are of interest.

There will be public announcements and consultations with local authorities before any decisions are taken to begin preliminary test drillings to confirm the properties of strata. Decisions to use geological strata for disposal would only be taken after the fullest consideration of all the safety and environmental issues—which would include consultation, with local authorities and other bodies concerned and an opportunity for public debate—and on the basis of a conclusion that it would be safe to do so.