Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Banbury, (Mr. Baldry)Official Report, 21 March column 506, how many reserve sites to Sellafield and Dounreay were listed by Nirex for potential low and intermediate-level nuclear waste disposal.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNirex's report to Government on the deep repository project, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, indicates that, following a detailed site selection procedure, twelve sites were chosen for further appraisal. Nirex decided that, as a first step, further investigations should be limited to two of these locations —Dounreay and Sellafield.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects publication of the report commissioned by his Department from the National Nuclear Corporation concerning the likely environmental impact of the disposal of spent irradiated fuel underground in thick copper cannisters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department has commissioned the National Nuclear Corporation to undertake a study into the packaging, storage and direct disposal of spent oxide fuel. The contract is due to end on 30 November 1989. The Department intends to publish the results of the study as soon as practicable thereafter.