HC Deb 29 April 1988 vol 132 cc333-4W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all current international civil nuclear research projects in which the United Kingdom has involvement either in direct co-operation with other states or through involvement via multinational bodies; what financial commitment has been made in each year since the United Kingdom co-operation began; and if he will make a statement on present prospects for each collaborative project.

Mr. Parkinson

United Kingdom bodies participate in the collaborative programmes of the International Atomic Energy Authority, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency, and Euratom. They also take part in a number of multinational and bilateral research projects. Details of this participation cannot be assembled without disproportionate cost.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what volumes of(a) low and (b) intermediate-level radioactive wastes are expected to arise from contracts currently signed for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant (THORP) at Sellafield; and what plans exist for the nuclear waste arising from these contracts.

Mr. Parkinson

The likely arisings from BNFL's existing THORP reprocessing contracts are:

  1. (a) Low-level waste, 40,000 cubic metres.
  2. (b) Intermediate-level waste, 6,000 cubic metres.

For wastes arising from pre-1976 contracts the low-level waste will be disposed of to Drigg and the intermediate-level waste will be sent to a United Kingdom repository. All post-1976 contracts include an option for the return of wastes, and we intend that this option should be exercised.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the contracts signed with(a) the Italian nuclear authorities and (b) the Japanese nuclear authorities for the management of spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield from the Latina and Tokai Mura magnox reactors, respectively, is designated to cover (i) the disposal of low and intermediate level wastes and (ii) high-level waste arising.

Mr. Parkinson

60 per cent. of contracts for the management of spent nuclear fuel from Latina and 55 per cent. of the contracts for the management of spent nuclear fuel from Tokai Mura cover disposal in respect of the wastes arising. The remaining contracts were all signed after 1976 and include options for the return of wastes arising. The Government intend that these options should be exercised.