HC Deb 11 March 1986 vol 93 cc427-31W
Sir Peter Emery

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as part of its search for available sites for the disposal of shorter-lived nuclear waste, the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has now concluded that there are no suitable sites in east Devon and Lyme bay: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The sites announced by my right hon. Friend on 25 February are the only ones which NIREX proposes to investigate in connection with the development of a near-surface facility.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Barnetby parish council to discuss proposals for nuclear waste disposal in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Ukeby parish council to discuss proposals for nuclear waste disposal in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Immingham town council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(4) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from South Killingholme parish council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from North Killingholme parish council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(6) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the East Halton parish council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(7) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from Cleethorpes borough council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(8) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from Humberside county council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(9) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Glanford borough council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(10) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Barrow on Humber parish council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(11) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the Barton on Humber town council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(12) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the organisation known as Humberside Against Nuclear Dumping to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement;

(13) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the New Holland parish council to discuss proposals for the disposal of nuclear waste in the area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

I shall be happy to meet, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, a deputation led by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what interval he intends to allow at the end of the consultation period in respect of the proposals for nuclear waste disposal announced in the statement he made to the House on 25 February, before he lays a special development order before Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

My right hon. Friend hopes to lay the order before Parliament in late April.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions special development orders have been laid before Parliament since 1970.

Mr. Waldegrave

Twelve special development orders have been laid and made in England and Wales since 1970.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors he proposes to take into account in deciding whether to amend the draft special development order relating to nuclear waste disposal before the order is laid before Parliament.

Mr. Waldegrave

Any proposed amendments will be considered on their merits.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the names of all sites which have been considered by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive at some stage since 1 January 1985 as possibilities for the disposal of nuclear waste.

Mr. Waldegrave

No.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information his Department has about the geology of South and North Killingholme in relation to the feasibility of dumping nuclear waste;

(2) if he will make it his policy to arrange for a separate assessment of the analyses of the results of the geological studies to be undertaken by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive at the four sites proposed for possible nuclear waste dumping; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

My Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will make an independent assessment of any proposals put forward by NIREX. The assessment will include the results of geological studies undertaken by NIREX of the sites involved.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the precise geological, demographic and safety features which led the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive to conclude that South Killingholme was potentially attractive as a nuclear waste dump.

Mr. Waldegrave

I understand that NIREX has recently sent my hon. Friend a copy of the brochure explaining its site selection procedures.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to allocate special resources from his Department to local authorities and others in Humberside to assist with defraying any reasonable expenses incurred in presenting to a public inquiry their views on nuclear dumping in South Killingholme.

Mr. Waldegrave

It is not Government policy to give financial aid to local authorities and objectors at public inquiries of this nature.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has at any time considered the possibility of selecting a site in the county of Surrey for investigation as a possible nuclear waste dump; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has at any time considered the possibility of selecting a site in the Greater London council area for investigation as a possible nuclear waste dump; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has at any time considered the possibility of selecting a site in the county of Avon for investigation as a possible nuclear waste dump; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The decisions on which sites to investigate and which to propose were matters for NIREX.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with bodies, apart from the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive, to assist him in formulating his policy regarding nuclear waste disposal.

Mr. Waldegrave

My right hon. Friend consults widely in formulating radioactive waste policy. Those consulted include other Government Departments, the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, the National Radiological Protection Board, enviromental groups and the nuclear industry.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the factors to be addressed in assessing any proposals which the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive may present to a public inquiry relating to the disposal of nuclear waste.

Mr. Waldegrave

The principles to be applied in the assessment by the relevant Departments, in considering whether to give a general authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 for any proposed disposal facility are set out in a booklet published by my Department in January 1985; "Disposal Facilities on Land for Low and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Wastes: Principles for the Protection of the Human Environment". Copies are available in the Library. It also lists the factors NIREX has to address in preparing an environmental assessment for consideration at a public inquiry into development proposals. In addition, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is preparing principles relating to its own responsibilities for disposal sites.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to visit the site selected by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive in South Killingholme for possible nuclear waste disposal; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

I intend to visit each of the alternative sites in due course. I will inform the hon. Members concerned when I have firm plans.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received relating to the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive's proposals to investigate South Killingholme as a possible site for the dumping of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

I have received a number of representations from hon. Members representing Humberside constituencies. I met my hon. Friend and the hon. Members for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) and for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Hickmet) on 17 December to discuss the question of sites. I have also received representations from local authorities and residents of the South Humberside area. I am aware that a petition has been presented to Parliament. My Department's Yorkshire and Humberside regional director has recently received a similar petition.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board relating to the disposal of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The civil nuclear power programme is an important contributor to the volume of radioactive waste expected in the future; and not unexpectedly it is a subject the chairman has raised with me when we have met informally, as for example we shall do when I have lunch with the CEGB on 26 March.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce authorisation for the commissioning of a nuclear waste dump; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The stage of formal authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 will not be reached until a facility has been built. This will probably not be until the early 1990s assuming that one of the four sites announced proves suitable. The authorising Departments will, however, give their provisional view on whether any facility subsequently proposed for development would be suitable for authorisation, before a public inquiry is held into that proposal. Consultations with the local planning authority and other bodies will take place before that view is given. An inquiry is unlikely to be held before late 1988 at the earliest.