§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what mechanisms she is evaluating to ensure that people hundreds of years hence are aware of(a)the presence and (b)the dangers of existing radioactive material which has a half-life extending beyond hundreds of years; [152619]
(2) what safeguards she intends to put in place to prevent radioactive contamination of future generations from (a)existing stocks of (i) intermediate level and (ii) high-level radioactive material and (b)from stocks predicted to arise over the next 50 years. [152692]
§ Mr. MorleyThe safe operation of interim radioactive material and waste storage and eventual disposal facilities is a matter for regulatory control by the Health and Safety 1549W Executive and the environment agencies. Both Ministers and the regulatory bodies require safety cases submitted for the operation of such facilities to provide demonstration of adequate protection of the public and the environment both now and into the future. The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has been set up under the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme to provide recommendations to UK Government and the devolved Administrations on the best option, or combination of options, for safe long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive wastes, including all intermediate and high level waste, liable to arise in the foreseeable future.