§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department is currently sponsoring into the dumping of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. FoxMy right hon. Friend, together with my right hon. Friends the 139W Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, are responsible for ensuring that there is adequate research and development on methods of disposing of civil radioactive waste. This Department has, on behalf of all three Secretaries of State, commissioned an expanded research programme on radioactive waste management. In particular, research is being undertaken to examine the feasibility of disposing of solid or solidified waste deep underground, under the sea-bed and on the deep ocean bed. Investigations to examine the characteristics of different geological formations through Great Britain are at various stages of progress.