HC Deb 16 October 1996 vol 282 cc1047-9W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy on substitution for the return of radioactive waste to countries of origin after reprocessing of the European Council written reply H629/96 of 18 September on this issue. [40810]

Mr. Clappison

None. The assertion thatBNFL is now considering the permanent on-site storage at Sellafield of high-level waste from the THORP plant, rather than returning it to foreign customers in Japan and Germany as contained in the question answered on 18 September H629/96 is incorrect.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the sight ion exchange extraction plant—SIXEP—and the enhanced actinide removal plant—EARP—waste filtration plants servicing the thermal oxide reprocessing plant facility at Sellafield have met their planned operational functions. [40800]

Mr. Clappison

The operation of the SIXEP and EARP plants has been closely monitored by the Environment Agency, and previously Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, since the plants came into operation. This monitoring has revealed that the two plants have met and some cases exceeded planned operational functions. The agency is continuing to monitor plant performance.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are available to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to commission independent scientific, technical or other relevant support studies from institutes or academic establishments. [40804]

Mr. Clappison

Members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee are appointed for their ability to advise the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales directly. Any additional advice required would normally be commissioned by the Government themselves. However, RWMAC is able to request resources to commission studies on an ad hoc basis.

The committee is currently undergoing a financial management and policy review. The prior options stage of this review will consider whether there is a continued need for the operation of RWMAC. If it is decided that the committee should continue, the second stage of the review will consider its structure and operation. This will include examination of the resources available to the committee.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the remit of RWMAC to oversee the expenditure of public money by public companies and organisations charged with the management of nuclear waste. [40803]

Mr. Clappison

The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is currently undergoing a financial management and policy review. The prior options stage of this review will consider whether there is a continued need for the operation of RWMAC. If it is decided that the committee should continue, the second stage of the review will consider its structure and operation. This will include examination of the scope of the committee's remit.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental policies are in place to cover the management of separated plutonium and plutonium contaminated wastes at nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom. [40805]

Mr. Clappison

Plutonium contaminated wastes are managed in accordance with the same policies that apply to all radioactive wastes. These are set out in the White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy—Final Conclusions", 1995, Cm 2919.

Separated plutonium is not designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities. It is managed through safeguards applied to nuclear materials under chapter VII of the Euratom treaty, and through voluntary agreements which the United Kingdom has under the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards regime.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to request the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to prepare guidance on the optimum environmental strategy on the handling, packaging, storage and disposal of plutonium designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities. [40802]

Mr. Clappison

There is no plutonium designated as waste at United Kingdom facilities.