§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Transport why he does not consider it appropriate to publish the names of the cities through which nuclear waste is transported by rail.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBecause the routeing of trains is an operational matter for which the British Railways Board are wholly responsible. I am satisfied that there are no valid safety or other reasons why Ministers should seek to take upon themselves responsibility for the day to day management of this matter as irradiated nuclear fuel is transported in conditions which make it quite suitable for routeing on a normal operational basis. Also disproportionate cost and effort would be involved in producing complete lists of towns or cities through which British Rail decide to route any particular goods.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Transport if he will specify the nature of irradiated nuclear fuel that is being transported through Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will state whether it is intermediate or high level nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA typical flask might hold up to 200 irradiated fuel elements containing a mixture of up to 2 tonnes of uranium, 5 kilograms of plutonium and a very small amount—representing about 1 per cent. of the total mass—of highly active fission products. The fission products constitute the actual waste material, the uranium and plutonium being recovered for further use by reprocessing at Windscale.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Minister of Transport whether the transport of irra- 564W diated fuel requires the approval of the Health and Safety Executive; and if the Executive has been consulted.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. My right hon. Friend has the sole responsibility for approval of flask designs and transport arrangements in his capacity as national competent authority under the relevant international regulations.