HC Deb 03 November 1998 vol 318 cc454-5W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is his Department's planned timetable for the assessment of the Environment Agency decisions on the proposed variations to BNFL's authorisations to discharge liquid and gaseous radioactive waste from Sellafield; [57103]

(2) if he will publish the unredacted version of the PA Consulting report on the business case for the Sellafield mox nuclear fuels plant submitted to the Government by the Environment Agency. [57104]

Mr. Meacher

The Agency's draft determination was received today on 2 November. Requests have been received for the Secretary of State to call in the application for his own determination. These requests are under careful consideration and the Secretary of State will reach a decision as soon as he is able to do so. One of the issues raised in the call in requests, which the Secretary of State will consider, is whether sufficient information has been released into the public domain to allow consultees to comment on the application.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what consideration he will give to the health, environmental and proliferation implications of further moves towards the full operation of the British Nuclear Fuels Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant at Sellafield in his assessment of the Environment Agency' s proposed decision on the plant; [57221]

(2) if he will make a statement on the proposed decision by the Environment Agency to allow the British Nuclear Fuels Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant at Sellafield to proceed to the next stage of commissioning. [57222]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 29 October 1998]: The Agency's draft determination was received on Monday 2 November. Requests have been received for the Secretary of State to call in the application for his own determination. These requests are under careful consideration. In deciding whether to exercise the statutory powers of call in all relevant factors will be taken into account. The Secretary of State will reach a decision as soon as he is able to do so.