Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the development of windpower farms, oil exploration and the possibility of radioactive waste disposal on the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. SainsburyThere have been no proposals to use the islands for the disposal of radioactive waste.
Wind power generation was examined in Lord Shackleton's reports of 1976 and 1982 but considered to be inadequate for the islands' needs. Experiments on the islands have not yet shown that wind power generation will be an economical proposition. However, the Falkland Islands development corporation is recommending soon that a proper study of the wind regime in the islands be undertaken.
No decisions have yet been taken on a possible regime to control exploration and development of mineral resources.