HC Deb 30 October 1990 vol 178 cc458-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list by year for the last 10 years to date the number of tonnes of radioactive waste that has been(a) imported and (b) exported through the ports of (i) Barrow, (ii) Heysham and (iii) Workington;

(2) what equipment is employed currently at (a) Barrow, (b) Heysham and (c) Workington for the handling of radioactive waste; and whether this is to be upgraded within the next five years;

(3) if he will list by year for the last 10 years the amount of radioactive waste imported from (a) the United States of America, (b) France, (c) Japan, (d) Sweden, (e) West Germany, (f) Switzerland, (g) Belgium, (h) the Netherlands, (i) Finland, (j) Italy and (k) other countries.

Mr. McLoughlin

Radioactive waste is not imported into this country.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by(a) description, (b) application and (c) maximum external dimensions, the standard waste containers for transportation of (i) low-level waste, (ii) intermediate-level waste and (iii) high-level waste; and if he will show in his answer the recommended means of transport for each category.

Mr. McLoughlin

At present only low and intermediate-level radioactive waste is transported. Containers, of which there are many types, are designed, tested and used in accordance with national and international regulations and where appropriate certified by my Department as complying with the regulations. Safety appropriate to the nature and quantity of the material carried is required to be "built in" to the design, and can normally be carried by all modes of transport.

Data on individual containers are matters for the designers of such containers.

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