§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the same kind of soil and geological conditions are required for dumping of low level waste as for intermediate level waste.
§ Mrs. RumboldTrench disposal of low level waste would require geological conditions in which the water flow is low and the surrounding rocks provide a natural barrier to the migration of radionuclides. Trench disposal of short lived intermediate level waste would require the 233W same conditions. Longer lived intermediate waste, for which deep disposal is used, requires similar conditions, but in addition the ground should be suitable for mining operations.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether, in view of the changed plans for dumping of nuclear waste, he will defer the date of laying the special development order;
(2) whether, in view of the decision to dispose of only low level nuclear waste at one of the four sites, he now intends to publish new informations to local authorities about quantities, transportation, method of dumping, safety, risk, and other characteristics of nuclear waste dumps.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI shall answer these questions shortly.