§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the report commissioned by his Department to examine the feasibility of alternatives to reprocessing of nuclear waste.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI assume that the hon. Member is referring to DOE report No. DOE RW89/089 entitled "Packing, storage and direct disposal of spent AGR fuel". The report was submitted to the Department in November 1989. A copy was also sent to the national lending library in Boston Spa, where it is available to the public on request. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the House Library.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the use of dry storage of nuclear waste from advanced gas-cooled reactors as an alternative to reprocessing or subterranean disposal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryNo such assessment has been made by my Department. The hon. Member is aware of226W the report commissioned by my Department on the feasibility of dry storage of spent fuel. Spent fuel is not nuclear waste unless it is designated for direct disposal. The storage of nuclear fuel is a matter for the nuclear industry.