§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what research is under way to establish the cost and feasibility of full decommissioning of nuclear reactors;
(2) how many nuclear reactors are fully decommissioned; and at what cost;
(3) what information he has as to whether Nuclear Electricity has a fully costed strategy for decommissioning its remaining Magnox reactors.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryNo commercial reactors in the United Kingdom have yet been fully decommissioned. Nuclear Electric and AEA Technology have programmes of research relating to the decommissioning of nuclear reactors which have the objectives to ensure the continued safety of the public, work force and the environment; to minimise environmental impact; to release land for other use as appropriate; and, consistent with the foregoing, to minimise expenditure.
AEA Technology is proceeding with a programme to fully decommission the prototype advanced gas-cooled reactor at Windscale by 1998 to demonstrate both decommissioning capabilities and costs involved.
Nuclear Electric's current strategy for decommissioning its nuclear power stations is set out in its report and 375W accounts for 1989–90, which also identified the accounting provisions made for future decommissioning costs, which were based upon Nuclear Electric's estimates of those costs.