§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister for Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what consideration has been given to the problem of dismantling used nuclear power installations, such as the Windscale pile; and to what extent future designs will incorporate the siting of the nuclear furnace underground.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am informed by the Atomic Energy Authority that the concrete vaults of the Windscale reactors have been sealed in such a way as to prevent exterior hazard. The method to be adopted for the power reactors now under construction will depend largely upon the techniques available at the time they are closed down for handling radioactive material. It would be uneconomic to site power reactors underground and this is not at present contemplated.