§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent review of exemption orders in so far as they affect radioactive substances.
§ Mr. BaldryExemption orders made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 are kept under regular review. New or amending orders are introduced when there is a justifiable case for doing so.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on how the application of duty of care waste management responsibilities affect radioactive waste management for small users of radioactive materials; and what consultations have been held with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution over this matter during the past six months.
§ Mr. BaldryThe law relating to the duty of care as concerns waste which is set out in section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 does not apply to radioactive waste. The keeping, use, accumulation and disposal of radioactive material and waste is regulated by the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution by means of certificates of registration and authorisation issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. HMIP is part of my Department, and staff consult each other as necessary.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the criteria adopted for setting radioactive distance limits for radioactive waste repositories.
§ Mr. BaldryThe broad criteria on which the authorisation of radioactive waste repositories under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 will be based are set out in a publication issued by the United Kingdom authorising Departments in 1984 entitled "Disposal Facilities on Land for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Wastes: Principles for the Protection of the Human Environment". A copy is in the Library.
Detailed matters relating to the radiological impact, of specific facilities will depend on the circumstances of the individual applications received.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to establish a body to oversee the integrated management and disposal of high-level, heat-generating, radioactive waste along the lines of the role undertaken by United Kingdom Nirex Ltd. for other levels of radioactive waste.
§ Mr. BaldryThere are no such plans. High-level or heat-generating radioactive waste will be stored for a period of at least 50 years to allow the heat and radioactivity to diminish before a decision is taken on its disposal.
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§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the 12th report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. BaldryI refer the hon. Member to the Department of the Environment news release dated 15 November 1991 which set out the response of my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's 12th annual report. Copies of the news release are in the Library.