Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected timetable for intermediate-level waste encapsulation at Sellafield for each of the encapsulation plants.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are three intermediate-level waste encapsulation plants currently under construction at Sellafield. One will be operational later this year; the others are expected to be commissioned in 1992.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the level of expenditure by his Department on research into the safety of(a) intermediate and (b) low-level nuclear waste disposal for each year from 1970 to 1990, inclusive; and what are the projected figures to 1999;
(2) what was the level of expenditure by his Department on research into the safety of high-level nuclear waste disposal for each year from 1970 to 1990, inclusive; and what are the projected figures to 1999.
§ Mr. TrippierMy Department announced in 1977 that it would be assuming overall responsibility for radioactive waste management policy and in 1978–79 a full programme of research commenced under DOE control. Our wide-ranging research programme produces long-term benefits for the safe disposal of all levels of radioactive waste. It is not therefore practicable to divide the costs in the way requested. The level of expenditure by my Department on radioactive waste management research at actual prices for each financial year has been as follows:
£million 1978–79 3.3 1979–80 5.1 1980–81 9.7 1981–82 8.5 1982–83 9.8 1983–84 8.5 1984–85 9.6 1985–86 10.6 1986–87 11.4 1987–88 10.2 1988–89 8.8 1989–90 10.8 It is envisaged that current levels of expenditure are likely to be maintained broadly until the end of the century.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any plans to build a nuclear waste repository under the seabed.
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§ Mr. TrippierThe United Kingdom has no such plans.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the table 3.2b on pages 3 to 11 of the United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory (DOE/RW 188.061) entitled "Conditioned Waste Volumes Classed According to Waste Category: Waste from Committed Sources" includes waste arising from British Nuclear Fuels plc. from uncommitted reactors which are not currently in existence, under construction or required in future for currently approved programmes.
§ Mr. TrippierThe uncommitted arisings are from the operations of the THORP plant at Sellafield following major maintenance after its first 10 years or so of operation. At the time the inventory was compiled, these were included with the committed arisings on the basis that THORP itself was committed.