§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress in site evaluation in terms of geology, transportation routes and effects on local economies, of prospective sites for the disposal of(a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level radioactive wastes in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn relation to low and intermediate-level wastes it is for the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive (Nirex) to evaluate these factors in relation to sites in the United Kingdom which it wishes to investigate. As regards possible geological investigations at Dounreay, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 6 November, at column495. If Nirex were subsequently to propose the construction of a repository it would be required to present a full safety case and environmental impact assessment, and a public inquiry would he held.
It is Government policy to store high-level radioactive wastes at the sites where they arise for at least 50 years. No current site evaluation is taking place for the disposal of this category of waste.