HC Deb 24 July 1987 vol 120 c524W
Mr. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table of the annual amount of spent nuclear fuel dispatches, by date and amount, for each year since 1979, including the first half of 1987 for the Trawsfynydd magnox nuclear station; and which local emergency planning authorities in Wales are given prior notice of spent fuel consignments transported through their area of responsibility from both the Trawsfynydd and Wylfa nuclear plants.

Mr. Michael Spicer

[pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987, c. 288–89]: The quantity of spent fuel dispatched is as follows:

Financial year Tonnes
1979–80 76
1980–81 64
1981–82 132
1982–83 118
1983–84 144
1984–85 118
1985–86 108
1986–87 108

Local emergency planning authorities are not specifically notified of movements of spent nuclear fuels through their areas as national procedures exist to respond to any transport radiological emergencies which might arise. Details of these procedures have been circulated by the Home Office to all chief constables, chief fire officers and chief executives of local authorities.

Ms. Ruddock

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on returning nuclear waste arising in low, intermediate and high level categories from the reprocessing of (a) imported thermal oxide fuel and (b) imported magnox fuel to each country of origin; what are the volumes involved in each waste category for contracts for spent nuclear fuel imported for reprocessing so far signed; and if he will make a statement on the impact on Nirex of managing spent nuclear fuel imported for reprocessing from other countries.

Mr. Michael Spicer

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1987]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1987 at columns 502–3.

I am asking the chairman of BNFL to write to the hon. Member with the detailed figures requested.