§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether there are any environmental problems associated with the thorium-uranium cycle; and what quantity of plutonium the process would produce per ton of fuel used;
(2) whether there are any problems associated with reprocessing of fuel used in the thorium-uranium cycle.
§ Mr. EadieThe technology for reprocessing fuel from thorium fuelled reactors has not been developed; but it is believed that its reprocessing will give rise to similar environmental and waste management problems to those of the reprocessing of existing oxide fuel. The exact quantities of plutonium produced would depend on the way the reactors are operated. I am advised that while the thorium-uranium cycle would produce less plutonium than the uranium-plutonium cycle, it would also produce uranium 233 which has implications for proliferation and non-peaceful uses.