§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received to the consultation document on the proposed amendments to the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and for a cost recovery charging scheme.
§ Mr. TrippierOrganisations responded to the consultation document issued jointly by myself with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A list of these has been placed in the Library of the House: copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library. Respondents gave a broad welcome to the proposals put forward in the paper.
In particular, there was enthusiastic support for the proposal to establish practicable de minimis levels of radioactive material and waste. Many comments were received on the section regarding the disclosure of information concerning possibly contaminated land and our proposals have been amended to clarify this section taking into account the suggestions made.
The proposal to introduce a cost recovery charging scheme attracted many comments with only a small minority objecting to the principles of charging. In developing the scheme we will take into account the helpful suggestions and comments received as a result of the current consultation exercise.