§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste. [152613]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has been set up, under the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme, to recommend the best option, or combination of options, for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity wastes. As the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" consultation document itself indicated, the Committee will be assessing long-term storage options alongside other long-term management options that are available. Both the public and stakeholder groups will be extensively involved in this assessment process.
It will then be for UK Government and the Devolved Administrations to decide the UK's long-term management policy for this waste in the light of CoRWM's recommendations.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of the reprocessing of radioactive material. [152614]
§ Mr. MorleyDecisions about whether to reprocess spent nuclear fuel depend on the commercial judgment of the operator concerned.
The Department's responsibility is to ensure that where reprocessing takes place it is in accordance with appropriate environmental objectives, including the United Kingdom's regulatory requirements and international obligations.