§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate how much nuclear waste is likely to be produced in the United Kingdom by the year 2000; and if he will indicate separately the quantities of high, intermediate and low-level wastes that will need to be accommodated.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI have been asked to reply.
The cumulative volumes of radioactive wastes likely to exist by the year 2000 are:
Number High activity wastes 4,300 m3 Intermediate activity wastes 90,000 m3 Low activity wastes 500,000 m3 These figures include wastes existing now and those likely to arise in future from existing nuclear installations and those currently under construction. They also include the wastes likely to arise from the new floc precipitation plant at Sellafield announced today. They do not include wastes that would arise from the CEGB's proposed power station at Sizewell in Suffolk if it were to be built. The totals include significant amounts of mainly low activity wastes (110,000 m3) from the production and use of radioisotopes for medical and industrial purposes and from other miscellaneous activities.