§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade which nuclear power stations were designed to use reprocessed fuel; and in which power stations the reprocessed fuel from the thermal oxide reprocessing plant is to be used.
§ Mr. EggarNo special design features are required in most water-moderated nuclear reactors to enable them to32W use reprocessed nuclear materials in their fuel. The use of reprocessing products arising in the thermal oxide reprocessing plant is a matter for the customers of British Nuclear Fuels plc.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what radioactive materials or radio-isotopes are already on site, or have been delivered for use at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant for commissioning or other purposes, excluding consignments or irradiated fuel, within the last three months, or are expected to be delivered before 31 July;
(2) if any of the completed or outstanding commissioning work to be undertaken at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant has resulted in any radioactive contamination of the plant;
(3) what has been the cost of all commissioning of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant undertaken and completed to date; and if he will specify those areas and items of plant completed so far.
(4) what is the approximate cost and timescale for each element of outstanding commissioning work on the thermal oxide reprocessing plant; and what areas or items of plant have yet to be completed.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what consignments of radioactive materials or radio-isotopes have been or are to be transferred within the Sellafield site for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant centre.
§ Mr. EggarThe majority of the irradiated fuel to be reprocessed during the first 10 years' operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant has already been delivered to storage ponds on the Sellafield site, including the receipt and storage facility attached to the THORP plant.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the initial estimates for the cost of constructing and maintaining the THORP at Sellafield and the actual cost of construction and maintenance.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 22 June 1993]: For the costs of constructing the thermal oxide reprocessing plant, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 17 December 1992 at columns 468–69. The plant's maintenance costs are an operational matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.