HC Deb 20 May 1988 vol 133 cc594-5W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the current contracts signed for THORP at Sellafield with non-United Kingdom companies is allocated for the expenditure to be incurred by(a) United Kingdom Nirex Ltd., (b) its successor body if reorganised under privatisation and (c) British Nuclear Fuels plc for the long-term storage or disposal of (i) low-level wastes and (ii) intermediate-level wastes to be retained in the United Kingdom after reprocessing.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Since 1976 BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes. Contracts signed before 1976 do not contain such options and therefore cover the costs of long-term storage and disposal of low and intermediate level wastes. I understand from BNFL that the costs of such storage and disposal are estimated to be less than 5 per cent. of the total costs associated with current contracts signed for THORP without return of waste options.