§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to conduct a full environmental pollution audit of the military nuclear fuel cycle, including 591W data from countries where the uranium used in the United Kingdom programme was mined and milled; and if he will publish the results at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. SainsburyNo. The environmental impact of the processing of nuclear materials in the defence nuclear programme for which this department is responsible has been evaluated and conforms fully with United Kingdom legislative requirements. As regards standards in overseas countries, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 9 February at column766 to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas).
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if radioactive wastes arising from the deployment of United Kingdom's nuclear forces abroad on land or at sea is(a) disposed of in foreign countries or (b) returned to the United Kingdom for disposal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 25 January 1989 at column653. Contingency arrangements exist for the handling of radioactive wastes arising, either on a routine or emergency basis, from United Kingdom military operations overseas. The decision between disposal abroad under locally approved arrangements and return to the United Kingdom depends on circumstances; it would not be in the national interest to elaborate.