§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year how many nuclear flasks from(a) research reactors and (b) nuclear power stations were imported on non-purpose built ships over the last 10 years.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe details of imported shipments of irradiated nuclear fuel using non-purpose built vessels during the last 10 years are as follows:
- (a) Research reactors: One flask in 1990; and
- (b) Nuclear power stations: 148 flasks over the 10-year period broken down as follows:
Shipment per year Year Total 1980 29 1981 45 1982 18 1983 26 1984 2 1985 11 1986 8 1987 6 1988 4 1989 16 1990 24
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ports through which irradiated nuclear fuel from nuclear power stations was imported in 1988 and 1989 and the number of flasks and tonnage of irradiated nuclear fuel imported through each port.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe ports through which flasks were imported and the tonnage of irradiated fuel they contained for the years 1988 and 1989 are as follows:
§ Mr. McLoughlinIn the last 10 years there has been only a single import of irradiated fuel from a foreign research reactor, in 1990 through the port of Felixstowe. The radioactive content was 0.004 tonnes.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the ship used to import irradiated 505W nuclear fuel from India was purpose built; which port was its point of entry; and what was the route taken to Dounreay.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe port of entry for the recent movement of irradiated fuel from India was Felixstowe. Movement from Felixstowe to Dounreay was by road; the route was as follows:
A45—A604—A1(M)/A1–A66—M6—A74/M74—M73/A80—M80—M9—A9—A895/882–836.
The ship used for this journey is classed as a general cargo ship and is registered in India.