§ Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the safety procedures employed during the processing of nuclear waste in the United Kingdom; and if he will give an assurance that he will make a statement if it is decided to import substantial additional quantities of waste from foreign countries for processing.
§ Mr. BennThe processing of irradiated nuclear fuel, including the separation of waste products from it, is carried out by British Nuclear Fuels Limited at Wind-scale, Cumbria. The installation is a licensed site under the nuclear installations Act 1965. The necessary safety standards for processing are provided by means of conditions attached to the licence which is granted by the Health and Safety Executive. The conditions include requirements for establishing operating limits and operating instructions for the processing plant and are enforced by the Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, which exercises strict control at all licensed sites. Some irradiated fuel is processed at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority sites, which are not subject to licensing but which are required to maintain the same standards as those applied at licensed sites.
As already announced, the Government are considering whether it would be acceptable for further processing work for overseas customers to be undertaken here. When a decision has been reached, I shall in due course announce it.