§ Sir Michaeal McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amounts of untreated nuclear waste are currently being stored at atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston; how soon a safe disposal site will be found for it; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleMOD policy is to dispose of radioactive waste via nationally available disposal routes wherever reasonably practicable. However for certain categories of waste, MOD, like the civil nuclear industry awaits the availability of a safe national disposal site such as the deep repository being planned by UK Nirex Ltd. for operation in 2005. Until that time, MOD is following the practice adopted by most nuclear sites in the United Kingdom of storing waste for which there is no current disposal route at the site where it is produced. About 2,000 cu m of untreated radioactive waste are currently stored at the atomic weapons establishment at Aldermaston, pending the availability of the deep repository. It is stored in closed containers in purpose-built facilities which are subject to regular monitoring and surveillance, and it constitutes no danger to the public, the work force or the environment. Treatment of waste is only performed when it is clear that this will result in a waste form which is likely to be acceptable for disposal.
§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the routine site management at atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston and particularly on safety checks; and if he will publish the manpower target for the establishment and its current staff total.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleSince the implementation of the Interim Management Contract on 1 October 1990 management of the AWE Aldermaston site has been the responsibility of a new management team comprising experienced managers seconded from Hunting-BRAE and existing senior personnel who have long experience of AWE operations. This management team is tasked with ensuring the most effective overall management of AWE, concentrating initially on manufacturing work and site services, whilst complying with appropriate safeguards for health and safety and security. The routine safety checks carried out at AWE include the personal monitoring of individuals, the monitoring of their working environment and the monitoring of the public and general environment for radiation, radioactive, and other potentially dangerous substances, as appropriate. The frequency and intensity of such monitoring programmes are arranged to be capable of timely detection of exposures to hazards at levels very substantially below limits and constraints set by legislation. The monitoring data obtained confirm that such very low levels continue to be achieved.
These procedures continue to demonstrate that a safe working and public environment is maintained at AWE sites and that the sites do not constitute dangers to the workers or the public.
It is not our policy to release details of manpower figures.