§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, to the latest date for which information is available, how many sites have been selected by the Institute of Geological Sciences for test drilling pursuant to the policy of locating suitable formations for the disposal of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Giles ShawEight sites have so far been selected by the Institute of Geological Sciences. These represent the first batches so far chosen as part of the underground research programme for which a wide range of geological formations are potentially worth consideration. This programme is designed to assess whether it would be safe and practicable to dispose of high level radioactive waste deep under ground. There is also an alternative research programme for disposal on the deep ocean bed; and as a further alternative parallel research into disposal under the deep ocean bed. However, since these programmes were initiated, further consideration has been given to the storage of such wastes at or near the surface. This would be in solidified form and the second report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee has confirmed that such storage, using existing technology and with proper supervision, is a realistic and acceptable proposition. The Government have undertaken to give full weight to its advice that this may well be the best solution for at least 50 years, and possibly much longer. While this advice clearly has significant implications for the whole time scale of research into the options for disposal, the Government believe it right that the research should continue on the broadest basis of options.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for planning permission for sites for test drilling as possible formations for the storage of nuclear waste have been granted by local authorities apart from Altnabreac in Caithness, Scotland; and how many applications for planning permissions for such test drilling have been refused, are pending or are subject to appeal to the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. Giles ShawApart from Altnabreac, no other planning permissions have yet been granted. Seven applications for planning permission have been refused or deemed to be refused. Public inquiries have been held into three of these; on two others appeals have been lodged but no inquiry has yet taken place; and on the remaining two I understand that the Institute of Geological Sciences intends to submit appeals shortly.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites will require test drilling to enable sufficient data to be accumulated to enable the authorities to determine the feasibility of using crystalline rocks or argillaceous and evaporite formations for the disposal of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe number of sites required will depend on the rate at which knowledge is built up as the work progresses. The types of rock considered to be worth, investigation, and which are of frequent occurrence are as follows:
Hybrid clays and salts, Granite, Argillaceous (clay), Basic igneous intrusion, Ancient crystalline rocksThe broad geographical areas where these are found and which are regarded as most suitable for research drilling, were set out in a statement on 24 July 1979: [Vol. 971, c. 215–219.]