§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of material the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority proposes to transfer from Dounreay to Drigg; what the composition of the material is; what method of transport will be used; and if she will make a statement. [162254]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 18 March 2004]: The application by UKAEA to transfer LLW to Drigg has been made to SEPA, whose responsibility it is to determine the application under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, subject to the powers of Scottish Ministers. As such it is a matter for SEPA and the Scottish Ministers.
I understand that SEPA has published the application and associated documentation on its website for public consultation, which closed on 23 February 2004. These can be viewed at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/consultation/ukaea/index.htm.
Given that Drigg is operated as a United Kingdom facility and that its existing authorisation is sufficient to cover the proposed transfer, it is not necessary for the Secretary of State to be involved in determining UKAEA's current application.