§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether environmental impact analysis has been used by his Department in assessing any major building project; and if he will list such projects;
(2) whether environmental impact analysis will be utilised by his Department and inspectors acting for his Department at public inquiries into sites for the building of future nuclear power stations.
§ Mr. FoxAn appropriate appraisal of the likely environmental consequences is made whenever my Department considers planning applications for major developments. The technique of environmental impact analysis can play a part in suitable cases.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether environmental impact analysis will be utilised in assessing the proposal to deposit high level radioactive wastes in geological formations.
§ Mr. FoxIf, after consideration in possibly 10 years' time of alternative methods of disposal, the Government of the day decided to proceed with the 735W development of a demonstration repository for the disposal of high level radioactive waste, the environmental effects of any proposal would be thoroughly investigated.