§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will quantify the amount of radioactive material which he has given permission to be dumped at Lumns Lane, Salford; whether there are any other sites available in the Greater Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe authorisation issued under section 6 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 permits the disposal at this site in any one month of waste containing up to 1,400 megabequerels of radioactivity. The site was originally suggested for consideration by Greater Manchester council in 1982, though it subsequently raised formal objection to its use for this purpose. The council did in fact carry out a survey of other waste disposal sites within Greater Manchester, but was unable to identify any alternative which could be made available. The Radiochemical Inspectorate of the Department are satisfied that the Lumns Lane site is suitable for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste as now authorised, and that there are no grounds for fearing any harm to local residents or others from it.