§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in considering suitable locations for long-term storage and disposal of nuclear 377W waste, what consideration he gives to the desirability of selecting a site where the existing level of natural background radiation is below the average for the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ShoreI am advised that the level of natural background radiation is insignificant, and that its variation is, therefore, also an insignificant factor. Moreover, any increase in exposure to radiation from long-term storage or disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear waste would itself be only a fraction of the natural background radiation. No decisions about disposal of such wastes can be taken until research has demonstrated the feasibility and safety of one or more methods. I am not at present considering any new locations in the United Kingdom for the long-term storage or disposal of such wastes.