§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their decision to open a further round of consultations in respect of the draft authorisations for the Sellafield site, in particular seeking comments on the justification for the operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant, was made for legal reasons and, if so, whether under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and, if so, under which specific provisions.
§ Lord StrathclydeA substantial number of responses to the public consultation on the revised draft authorisations for Sellafield raised questions as to the justification for the operation of the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP). These questions were not dealt with in the inspectorates' report on the consultation because of the wider issues raised. My right honourable friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food decided that they wished to consider these questions. Additional information to be supplied to them by BNFL and other material will be made available for public comment before they make final decisions in exercise of their functions under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.