§ 19. Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold a public inquiry into general policy relating to the disposal of nuclear waste from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GowAs my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State explained to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 9 December, it is not proposed to set up a planning inquiry commission to consider any planning applications by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive for land disposal of radioactive waste. The intention is to consider these under the procedures set out by my right hon. Friend in his statement on 25 October. — [Vol. 47, c. 156–57.] We believe these procedures are preferable and fully adequate.
So far as sea disposal is concerned, my right hon. Friend proposed to the TUC on 5 December that an independent review of the scientific evidence should he carried out by someone who is authoritative and acceptable to them. If it agrees, as I hope it will, my right hon. Friend will discuss with it the form of that review.