§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on current Government policy in respect of(a) the transportation by land and air of nuclear waste or spent fuel of all grades in or over the United Kingdom and (b) the importation of other nations' nuclear wastes for reprocessing or storage in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BaldryThe transport of all radioactive materials is allowed only subject to very rigorous requirements. Regulations are laid down by the Department of Transport and these are based on internationally agreed standards of safety recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The containers approved for radioactive materials are designed in such a way that there would be no significant radiological hazard even in a severe accident. Therefore, safety does not depend on means of transport or route employed.
Nuclear wastes are not imported into the United Kingdom. Since 1976, BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes arising. The Government intend that reprocessing contracts with overseas customers should continue to contain such options, that the options should be exercised and that wastes should be returned.