HC Deb 04 July 1994 vol 246 cc19-20W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government will adopt fully to comply with the international recommendations from the Paris Commission in relation to BNFL THORP at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

The recommendations of the Paris Commission are not binding. The United Kingdom complies with those recommendations that it accepts. Since 1987, there have been nine Paris recommendations on radioactive issues. The United Kingdom has accepted all of those except for recommendation 93/5.

The United Kingdom, together with other contracting parties, placed a reserve on recommendation 93/5 because it failed to meet the standard of clarity desirable in an International agreement and sought to give the Paris Commission an inappropriate role in the authorising of individual projects.