HC Deb 10 January 1989 vol 144 cc571-2W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the expected minimum and maximum levels of radioactive emissions per year from the Sellafield plant; what type of emissions they will be; and what radioactive levels will make up such emissions.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Discharges of radioactivity from the Sellafield plant are subject to conditions of authorisations issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The current authorisations in respect of discharges to sea and air came into force on 1 July 1986 and 1 January 1988 respectively. Both include limits on the quantities of specified radionuclides and groups of radionuclides to be discharged within specified periods of time. They also require the use of the best practicable means to limit the activity of the waste discharged.

BNFL publishes annual reports on radioactive discharges and monitoring of the environment. These contain full details of the types and quantities of radionuclides discharged from Sellafield (and other BNFL sites), and demonstrate compliance with the authorisations. The most recent report, in respect of 1987, was published in November 1988; this is in the Library of the House.