§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps to protect the environment from radiation due to the disposal of radioactive waste of all kinds and from all sources he has taken since 1981; where radioactive waste is now being deposited; what discussions he has had, or intends to have, to resolve this problem on an international level; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer the hon. Member to the White Paper, "Radioactive Waste Management" (Cmnd. 8607) laid before the House in July 1982, and the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 25 October—[Vol. 47, c. 156–67] and 2 November [Vol. 47, c. 383–4.]
The disposal of radioactive waste has been stringently controlled for many years under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, and the Government believe this Act provides adequate powers with which to protect both man and the environment. The United Kingdom continues to play a full part in the discussions on this subject within the European Community, the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and meetings of contracting parties to the London dumping convention.