§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what percentage of the weight, and what percentage of the volume of waste sent to Drigg, for each of the years 1980–88 inclusive, originated from(a) British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, (c) the Central Electricity Generating Board and (d) the South of Scotland Electricity Board; and if he will make a statement.
(2) what was the weight and volume of waste sent to Drigg for each of the years from 1980 to 1988 inclusive; and what are his estimates for 1989 to 1999 inclusive;
(3) what is the cost of disposal of waste at Drigg per cubic metre; what plans there are for upgrading the disposal practice of low-level waste at Drigg; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThis is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of the borehole drilling programme at(a) Sellafield and (b) Dounreay.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerDrilling of the first borehole at Sellafield finished on 8 November. Acting on behalf of Nirex, British Nuclear Fuels has now made an application to the local planning authority for permission to drill a second borehole. Also acting on behalf of Nirex, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority submitted an application for permission to drill two boreholes at Dounreay, which was rejected by the local planning authority in July. The authority's appeal against this decision was submitted on 24 August, and is currently with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the expected tonnage which will be deposited in the Nirex deep repository for(a) intermediate waste and (b) low-level waste.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerNirex expects to handle about 1 million cu m of low-level waste and one third of a million cu m of intermediate level waste by 2030.