HL Deb 17 July 1990 vol 521 cc852-4WA
Lord Clinton-Davis

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total amount of radioactive waste which is being dumped in London.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)

Radioactive waste may only be disposed of if an authorisation has been issued by HMIP under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The department does not maintain a central record of the quantities of low-level radioactive waste disposed of through local disposal routes nor of specific disposal locations. However, a condition of authorisation requires waste producers to keep proper and detailed records relating to their disposals. These records as well as the premises or sites concerned are subject to scrutiny by HMIP Inspectors to ensure compliance with the terms of the certificates of authorisation.

Lord Clinton-Davis

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With what regularity Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution monitor the disposal of radioactive waste in the London area.

Lord Hesketh

The information is not available in the form requested. Available information on the frequency of inspection of premises authorised by HMIP under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to dispose of radioactive waste, including those premises in the London area, is collected on a national basis. This information is published in the department's management information system returns available in the Library of the House. The latest published report (MINIS 10) covers the period 1988–89. The MINIS 11 report covering 1989–90 will be placed in the Library in due course.