§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes, in the interests of nuclear waste management, to put into effect the recommendations in the report of Sir Brian Flowers, paragraph 432, Cmnd. 6618, that a nuclear waste disposal corporation should be established to take over responsibility for the treatment and disposal of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI have been asked to reply.
The Government's conclusions about organisation for nuclear waste management will be contained in the forthcoming White Paper.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of high-level nuclear waste awaits disposal; whether it is all located at Sellafield; whether it is in liquid or vitrified form; and how long it is to be retained in surface installations before permanent disposal.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI have been asked to reply.
About 1,000 cubic metre of liquid high-level radioactive waste is currently stored at Sellafield and a further 750 cubic metres in less concentrated form at Dounreay. British Nuclear Fuels Limited is proposing to build a vitrification plant at Sellafield for high-level waste, which would then be stored for a period of at least 50 years. At the end of that period, a decision would be needed on whether to continue with storage, or to use one of the possible disposal routes. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority intends that the Dounreay wastes should also be vitrified at a later date.