§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will allow geological exploration of possible sites for nuclear dumps in counties whose structure plans prohibit disposal or transportation of nuclear waste; if he will list his powers to overrule such prohibition; on what basis he will consider doing so; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegravePermission to undertake geological exploration would be sought from Parliament through a special development order. My right hon. Friend's powers to approve, reject or modify structure plans, or proposals for their alteration or replacement, in whole or in part, are contained in sections 9 and 10 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 and the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. There are no policies in approved structure plans which prohibit the disposal or transport of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 11 February Official Report, column 403, whether he has received any representations on the list of possible sites for nuclear dumps from hon. Members representing constituencies in Oxfordshire;
(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 11 February, Official Report, column 403, whether he will specify what representations he has received and from whom on the NIREX list of possible nuclear sites submitted to him on 8 January.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe proposals put forward by NIREX are of course confidential. In recent months my right hon. Friend received a number of representations, from hon. Members and others, on the possible location of sites selected by NIREX. Representations have been made by hon. Members for constituencies in Oxfordshire.