HL Deb 16 June 1989 vol 508 c1692WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are present levels of road and rail transport of low and intermediate radioactive waste; whether they plan increases to such transport from reactor sites to centralised repositories; and whether this gives rise to problems.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

The Government do not collect data on individual movements of low level radioactive wastes. The transport of such wastes is described in a 1988 report of the Advisory Committee on the Transport of Radioactive Materials entitledThe Transport of Low Level Radioactive Waste in the UK, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

All the intermediate level wastes arising from reactor operations are currently stored at the site of origin pending the establishment by UK NIREX Ltd. of a deep waste repository. These wastes will be transported to the deep repository when this is operational. The transport of all radioactive materials, including all types of wastes, is subject to comprehensive regulations and must comply with stringent internationally accepted standards.