HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 c630W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the policy and technical considerations underpinning the policy choice of early disposal instead of long-term monitorable and retrievable storage of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government believe that decisions on the disposal of low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes should not be left to future generations, and that the costs of disposal should be met by the "polluter". It is satisfied that early disposal in general carries a lower risk to workers in the nuclear industry and to the public, and also avoids the provision of costly and extensive storage capacity.