§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many tonnes of spent oxide nuclear fuel have been(a) sheared and dissolved and (b) reprocessed to the thermal oxide reprocessing plant since (i) March 1994 and (ii) March 1997. [6550]
§ Mr. BattleSince the thermal oxide reprocessing plant began operations in March 1994, some 680 tonnes of fuel have been sheared and dissolved to the year end, March 1997, the latest date for which figures are available. THORP remains on target to process 7,000 tonnes of fuel in its first 10 years of operation and to make at least £500 million profit for this period after decommissioning costs have been taken into account. Shearing and dissolving are an integral part of reprocessing.