§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the volume of (a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level nuclear waste that has arisen at Sellafield from the combined reprocessing of the total throughput of spent Magnox nuclear fuel derived from the Latina Magnox reactor in Italy and the Tokai Magnox reactor in Japan.
§ Mr. GoodladThe quantities of low level and intermediate level radioactive waste attributable to the reprocessing of spent fuel from these reactors were given in my reply of 27 November to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, (Mr. Beith), at column 302 and of 15 December to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), at column 383, respectively. I am informed by British Nuclear Fuels that the total volume of high level waste is 90 cubic metres.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the contractual obligations upon British Nuclear Fuels plc regarding the storage of nuclear waste arising from the management and reprocessing of imported spent Magnox fuel.
§ Mr. GoodladBNFL's contracts entered into prior to 1976 contain no express provisions regarding the storage of waste arising from the management and reprocessing of spent Magnox fuel. Since 1976 BNFL's contracts have contained options for the return of such waste. BNFL is obliged to provide interim storage of such waste prior to its return to the customer.
The Government's policy on the disposal of waste arising under BNFL's reprocessing contracts with overseas customers was set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May at column 502.