HC Deb 16 April 1981 vol 3 cc259-60W
Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the total amounts of intermediate level radioactive waste currently stored in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Thomas) on 12 March 1980—[Vol. 980, c. 615–16.] A more detailed breakdown by categories of waste and place of storage is not currently readily available, but I shall write to the hon. Member with further details when the collection and analysis of data which is at present being undertaken is at a more advanced stage.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will hold consultations with representatives of local authorities on the implications of the review of Cmnd. 884 on the control of radioactive waste and disseminate to these authorities the information contained in Cmnd. 884 and its review.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 January 1981—[Vol. 997, c. 463]. The recommendations in the review of Cmnd. 884 are addressed to the nuclear industry, regulatory and advisory bodies and Government Departments. Appropriate consultations will take place before present arrangements are changed.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for the treatment or disposal of intermediate level radioactive waste (a) currently in existence in the United Kingdom and (b) as a result of the decommissioning of nuclear reactors.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I have been asked to reply.

The Government are currently developing, in consultation with the nuclear industry, plans for the programmed disposal of all types of radioactive wastes. Research being undertaken into radioactive waste management is described in the "Review of Research on Radioactive Waste Management and Radioactivity in the Environment" published in 1979 as Departments of the Environment and Transport research Report 32. This review will be updated in due course.