HC Deb 05 March 1984 vol 55 cc393-4W
Mr. Orme

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much nuclear waste has been imported for reprocessing since 1979; and what was the country of origin of each year's imports.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Nuclear waste has not been imported into the United Kingdom. Spent irradiated nuclear fuel is imported prior to reprocessing at British Nuclear Fuel's plant at Sellafield. The following table shows receipts of spent fuel for the calendar years 1979–83;

tones
uranium
1979 207
1980 217
1981 247
1982 322
1983 321

These figures cover both Magnox and oxide fuel shipments from Japan, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands. The quantities received from each country are commercial in confidence.

BNFL's contracts for reprocessing signed since 1976 include options providing for the return to customers of radioactive wastes arising from reprocessing.