§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the dangers involved in the transport of nuclear waste by rail through densely populated areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
Irradiated nuclear fuel is transported in this country in accordance with very high internationally-accepted safety standards. They are designed to ensure that even in the event of a very severe accident there would be no dangerous release of radioactive matter from the flasks used. I am happy to repeat yet again that I am satisfied that the precautions taken are fully adequate to protect the public, including those in densely populated areas.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the standards laid down for containers which transport nuclear waste have been changed since the publication of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution in 1976; in particular, whether containers are still tested for impact representing the effect of a 30 mph crash, as reported by the Royal Commission; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
The international safety standards have not been changed since 1976. However, a planned comprehensive review of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regulations in which they are prescribed commenced last year.
The impact test represents the effect of crashes at much more than 30 mph. The speed of 30 mph is simply the terminal velocity in the IAEA 9 m free drop impact test. However, the test parameters require that the package, in its most vulnerable attitude, is assumed to impact on to an unyielding target thereby transmitting all the impact energy into the package. The test thus represents conditions that would apply in the case of a real-life 619W accident at a much higher speed of collision.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how often flasks used to transport nuclear waste are inspected.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have been asked to reply.
After thorough inspection and examination both during and at completion of manufacture, flasks are subject to inspection and testing prior to every dispatch of a consignment of fuel, with particular reference to seals and radiological checks. Full in-service inspections and examinations, including repainting, are performed at intervals of no more than three years.