§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the findings of the European Commission's PAGIS study into the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal;
(2) what account he will take of the European Commission's PAGIS study findings in determining Government policy on the disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Britain;
(3) how his Department intends to use the findings of the European Commission's PAGIS assessment of the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal.
§ Mr. TrippierPAGIS—performance assessment of geological isolation systems—a six-year multinational research project on the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal, was launched in 1982 as part of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste management. Reports of the PAGIS project have been published by the European Commission. The results indicate that vitrified high-level radioactive waste could be disposed of safely in a variety of geological formations. PAGIS reinforces Government policy on the management of high-level radioactive waste and due account will be taken of the methodology and results when considering its eventual disposal.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the European Commission's PAGIS study into the suitability of British geology for high-level radioactive waste disposal.
§ Mr. TrippierMy Department was represented on the PAGIS steering committee.