§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods are known to Her Majesty's Government to carry out the destruction of nuclear materials as is set out in clause 6(4) in the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Bill.
§ Mr. ChopeI have been asked to reply.
The method of destruction/disposal would be a matter for the courts to decide at the time and would depend on the nature and quantity of the material involved. While in most cases orders would be for the disposal of the radioactive material to a licensed facility, in very unusual circumstances a destruction order could be made. This would not necessarily require the destruction of the radioactive material but of the instrument or machinery which contains it in order to facilitate the safe disposal of the radioactive material. The courts would be able to seek advice from any number of organisations, including the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Department of Transport, on the appropriate disposal methods.