§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how great a factor the attitude of the local populations will be in his final choice of sites for the building of nuclear waste repositories.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe views of local people will be a material consideration in any decisions made.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to take any measures to ensure that the residents of the areas proposed as sites for nuclear waste repositories will be made aware of (a) the proposal to build the repository in the vicinity, (b) the exact nature the use to which the site would be put, (c) the implications of the proposal for the future of the area and (d) the arguments, both for and against, the building of the repository.
§ Mrs. RumboldAny planning application by NIREX for disposal of waste will be subject to a public inquiry following advertisement and notification of particular parties affected. NIREX will be expected to submit with any such application information on the nature of the development proposed and how the site as so developed would be used. It will also be expected to submit a report of an assessment of the wider environmental implications of its proposal. There will be a full opportunity at any public inquiry for people interested to express views for and against what is proposed.