§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions have been made for the disposal or long-term management of(a) low-level radioactive waste, (b) intermediate-level waste and (c) high-level waste arising from contracts signed for the reprocessing of foreign spent nuclear fuel prior to 1976; and what volumes of waste will arise in each category from these contracts on the completion of reprocessing.
§ Mr. BaldryOverseas reprocessing contracts signed by BNFL before 1976 did not contain options for the return of wastes arising. The latest estimates of total volumes of waste which are likely to arise from these contracts are:
Cubic metres High-level waste 100 Intermediate-level waste 4,000 Low-level waste 50,000 These wastes will represent only a small proportion of total wastes arising in the United Kingdom. They will be disposed of along with other United Kingdom waste but will not require extra disposal facilities to be provided here.
§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions have been made for the disposal or long-term monitored storage of low and intermediate-level radioactive waste arising from the contracts recently signed by British Nuclear Fuels plc with electricity utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Mr. BaldryIn line with all other contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel signed since 1976, the new contracts between British Nuclear Fuels plc and electricity utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany contain options for the return of wastes arising. For the Government's policy on the return of wastes, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986 at columns502–03.