HC Deb 12 January 1998 vol 304 cc132-4W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the size reduction facility at AWE Aldermaston to be completed and able to commence operations. [21810]

Mr. Spellar

An interim facility should be completed and available to start operations by summer of 1998. Options for a longer term facility are under consideration.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current space storage capacity at AWE Aldermaston for nuclear waste designated for disposal at the NIREX deep waste repository. [21807]

Mr. Spellar

Following the previous Government's decision in March 1997 not to support Nirex's appeal against the decision of the planning inspector concerning the proposed rock characterisation facility at Sellafield, none of the radioactive waste at AWE is designated for disposal at Nirex. Safe and secure storage for AWE' s Intermediate Level Waste will be provided as necessary until a new national policy for the disposal of such material has been devised.

The total storage capacity for Intermediate Level Waste at AWE Aldermaston is 4,000 cubic metres of which approximately a quarter is still available.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to construct further nuclear waste stores at AWE Aldermaston. [21834]

Mr. Spellar

Construction of a new Intermediate Level Waste store is under consideration.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what public safety assessments have been made of buildings at AWE Aldermaston converted from their previous use to become nuclear waste stores. [21805]

Mr. Spellar

All facilities at AWE Aldermaston that store radioactive waste have safety cases prepared which are submitted to the Health and Safety Executive and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much intermediate-level and low-level nuclear waste that cannot be disposed of at Drigg is currently in store at AWE Aldermaston. [21806]

Mr. Spellar

There is currently 2,549 cubic metres of intermediate and low level waste in store at AWE Aldermaston which is not suitable for disposal at BNFL Drigg.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated costs, for each of the next 10 years, of decommissioning old buildings and equipment at AWE Aldermaston. [21833]

Mr. Spellar

The detailed plans for decommissioning old buildings and equipment over the next ten years at AWE Aldermaston represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of that particular element of the defence programme and have not yet received approval. Accordingly I am withholding this information under exemption 2, internal discussions and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if repairs to the A91 plant at AWE Aldermaston have now been completed; and when he expects the plant to become fully operational. [21804]

Mr. Spellar

The repairs to A91 are complete. It is expected that the plant will become fully operational in 1999.

Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the estimated annual arisings of(a) low-level waste that can be disposed of at Drigg, (b) low-level nuclear waste that cannot be disposed of at Drigg, (c) intermediate-level nuclear waste arising from normal operations, (d) intermediate-level waste arising from decommissioning, (e) low-level waste arising from decommissioning operations that can be disposed of at Drigg and (f) low-level waste arising from decommissioning operations that cannot be disposed of at Drigg, from AWE Aldermaston, in each of the years between the present and 2020. [21808]

Mr. Spellar

Forecasts of waste arisings are produced annually for the following ten years. The present forecast is (all volumes shown in cubic metres):

  1. (a) low level waste that can be disposed of at BNFL Drigg:
    • 1998: 1,900
    • 1999: 2,200
    • 2000: 1,800
    • 2001: 2,800
    • 2002: 3,000
    • 2003: 1,500
    • 2004: 3,700
    • 2005: 3,300
    • 2006: 2,500
    • 2007: 3,000
  2. (b) low level waste that cannot be disposed of at Drigg is not forecast separately from intermediate level waste arisings and is included in (d) below.
  3. (c) intermediate-level waste arising from normal operations:
    • 1998: 40
    • 1999: 40
    • 2000: 40
    • 2001: 40
    • 2002: 40
    • 2003: 40
    • 2004: 40
    • 2005: 40
    • 2006: 40
    • 2007: 40
  4. (d) intermediate-level waste arising from decommissioning:
    • 1998: 190
    • 1999: 130
    • 2000: 220
    • 2001: 170
    • 2002: 150
    • 2003: 160
    • 2004: 170
    • 2005: 160
    • 2006: 150
    • 2007: 150
  5. (e) low level waste arising from decommissioning operations that can be disposed of at Drigg:
    • 1998: 400
    • 1999: 760
    • 2000: 510
    • 2001: 1,580
    • 2002: 1,970
    • 2003: 680
    • 2004: 3,010
    • 2005: 2,750
    • 2006: 2,010
    • 2007: 2,530
  6. (f) low level wastage arising from decommissioning operations that cannot be disposed of at Drigg is not forecast separately from ILW arisings and is included in (d) above.