§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all toxic chemicals discharged into the environment or disposed of off-site by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.
§ Mr. AitkenTo identify and list individually the wide and varied range of over 1,000 toxic chemicals used by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, those which may ultimately be discharged into the environment, or disposed of off-site, would involve disproportionate cost. Nevertheless, in all cases where toxic materials are discharged or disposed of, the statutory requirements and the need for authorisations, consents or licences are observed.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on decommissioning and radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston; how that policy has changed since the unpublished 1990 memorandum by the Comptroller and Auditor General on "Ministry of Defence: Nuclear Research and Support Services", paragraphs 4.17 to 4.28; and what further policy changes he plans to make.
308Wout-patient treatment, etc. for the years 1993, 1983, and 1977. 1973 fees were set in 1967 and were given in old currency.
This information has been provided by the St. Helena Government, who are unable to give comparable figures in real terms over the period.
§ Mr. AitkenMy Department's policies on decommissioning, and radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, are in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Authority guidelines, and have not changed since the unpublished 1990 memorandum by the Comptroller and Auditor General on Ministry of Defence nuclear research and support services. However, the programmes of work for decommissioning and radioactive waste management have since been revised, and will continue to be revised on an annual basis.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1992,Official Report, column 299, how much of the 1,800 cu m of low-level waste stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston at December 1991 is estimated to be plutonium-contaminated material.
§ Mr. AitkenApproximately 90 per cent. of low-level radioactive waste is plutonium contaminated.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) of 19 November 1992,Official Report, column 294, what was the average annual increase in the volume of intermediate-level waste stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, as at December for 1983 to 1992.
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§ Mr. AitkenThe information requested may be calculated from my earlier answer by dividing the difference in intermediate-level waste holdings for the two years by nine.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role and powers of the Health and Safety Executive concerning the company Hunting BRAE, while it is managing the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
§ Mr. AitkenThe role and powers of the Health and Safety Executive in respect of the management of the atomic weapons establishment have not changed since my answer of 4 March 1993,Official Report, column 227.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of the current estimated date of readiness of the Nirex national repository for radioactive waste in his policy on managing radioactive waste management at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.
§ Mr. AitkenThe latest available readiness date of the repository is taken into consideration by AWE Aldermaston in formulating its radioactive waste management policy and strategy.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 303, how much plutonium-contaminated liquid waste is stored in closed steel tanks located in bitumen-lined pits at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston; and what is its total activity.
§ Mr. AitkenThe amount of plutonium contaminated liquid waste stored in closed steel tanks at AWE Aldermaston is some 720 cubic metres. Its total activity is 925 Gigabecquerels (alpha), and 2.38 Terabecquerels (beta).
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1992,Official Report, column 299, what is the expected average annual change in the volume of intermediate-level waste to be stored at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AitkenThe average rate of increase of intermediate level waste arising at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, over the next 10 years will be approximately 240 cubic metres per annum.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all toxic chemicals in use by the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston.
§ Mr. AitkenAs with all major industrial sites AWE Aldermaston uses a wide and varied range of materials, exceeding 1,000 in total, which have toxic properties; it would therefore, be impractical to list them all without incurring disproportionate cost and effort.