§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the output of nuclear waste from Scottish power stations at present; and what methods of disposal are currently employed.
§ Mr. MillanDisposals of nuclear waste from Scottish nuclear power stations in 1975—the last full year for which comprehensive information is available—were as shown below. There was some increase in 1976 from the Hunterston B reactor. The disposals were within the limits that I authorised under the provisions of the 287W Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The methods of disposal authorised are dispersal to very low levels by massive dilution
British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. Chapeloross South of Scotland Electricity Board Hunterston United Kingdom Energy Authority Dounreay Gaseous wastes: Argon 41* … … 32,000 curies 32,000 curies — curies Aerosols … … 0.03 curies 0.03 curies 0.03 curies Liquid wastes: Tritium … … 7.0 curies 55.0 curies <300 curies Alpha emitters … … 0.1 curies 0.1 curies 23 curies Total Beta emitters … … 17.0 curies 115.0 curies 5,540 curies Low-activity solid wastes … † 210.0 cubic metres 1,850 cubic metres * As the level of activity decays by a factor of 100 every 12 hours the emission is effectively negligible. † Scottish disposals are combined with authorised disposals in England.