§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions as to the disposal costs of high-level radioactive waste arisings were reached by recent studies commissioned by his Department; and if this cost includes the present and future storage of the high-level waste and the vitrification of the waste.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAccurate cost estimates are not possible as high-level waste will not be disposed of for at least 50 years. An indicative estimate is in the order of £500 per litre, exclusive of the costs of storage and vitrification.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's report on Magnox fuel dry storage and direct disposal, assessment of the Central Electricity Generating Board/South of Scotland Electricity Board reports; and if he will make a statement about the report's estimate of the cost of disposing of(a) high-level and (b) intermediate and low-level nuclear waste.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyA copy of the report was placed in the Library on 26 May 1988. For high-level wastes, accurate cost estimates are not possible as waste in this category will not be disposed of for at least 50 years. The report gives an indicative estimate of £500 per litre.
The costs estimated in the report of the disposal of low and intermediate-level wastes are consistent with the costs currently estimated by UK Nirex Ltd. which are:
Intermediate-level wastes—Land based deep repository £2,000-£7,000 per cubic metre.Low-level wastes—Deep repository £750-£2,000 per cubic metre.
Bid Allocation Spend New Build Conversion (£million) (units) 1983–84 74.675 35.103 40.189 121 49 1984–85 72.806 34.449 49.165 80 — 1985–86 103.227 29.319 31.899 42 — 1986–87 121.397 29.486 64.259 135 75 1987–88 121.641 26.307 67.336 90 — 1988–89 104.226 27.009 — — — In addition the council reported 18,292 dwellings renovated or improved between 1 April 1983 and 31 March 1988.