§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how often British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. has exercised its option to return wastes under their contracts for reprocessing spent fuels from overseas utilities in Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland; and if he will itemise such returns since 1976 to date.
§ Mr. BaldrySince 1976, the overseas reprocessing contracts of British Nuclear Fuels plc have contained options for the return of wastes arising. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes should be returned. Before such wastes can be returned they have to be put into a form in which they can be safely transported and stored. I understand that the vitrification plant for treating high-level waste will be operational later this year and that the encapsulation plant for intermediate-level waste should be operational by 1992, when the thermal oxide reprocessing plant begins commercial reprocessing.