§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he can now state whether British Nuclear Fuels Limited will be 341W permitted to take on further contracts from overseas customers for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel.
§ Mr. BennThe Government have given full consideration to the safety and environmental implications of accepting more work of this kind, taking account particularly of the views which have been expressed in the recent extensive public discussion of the question. They have decided that the company may, subject to the negotiation of satisfactory terms, take on further work on the basis that the contracts will include terms to ensure that the company will have the option to return residual radioactive waste and will not be obliged to retain it in this country for long-term storage; and that suitable understandings in support of the return option are reached between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of the country concerned.