HC Deb 15 October 1990 vol 177 c672W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the volumes of intermediate-level waste, low-level waste and high-level waste produced in the United Kingdom by the reprocessing of foreign magnox fuel that has been returned to the original owners of the fuel for each of the years from 1965 to 1990 inclusive; and what are the projected volumes to 1999;

(2) what are the volumes of intermediate-level waste, low-level waste, and high-level waste produced in the United Kingdom by the reprocessing of foreign magnox fuel that has not been returned to the original owners of the fuel, for each of the years 1965 to 1990, inclusive; and what are the projected volumes to 1989.

Mr. Baldry

Since 1976 all overseas reprocessing contracts have contained options for the return of wastes arising. For the Government's policy with regard to the return of such wastes, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986 at columns 500–01. No waste from the reprocessing of overseas magnox fuel has yet been returned. The total projected volumes of waste from reprocessing magnox fuel irradiated at overseas power stations are:

cubic metres
Pre-76 contracts Post-76 contracts
High-level waste 20 20
Intermediate-level waste 1,600 1,700
Low-level waste 44,000 110,000
1Compacted.

From 1993 all low-level waste will be compacted, thus reducing its volume.