§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the possible sites at which Nirex proposes to drill holes or use explosive charges for a seismic survey of Dounreay as part of the proposed preliminary trial;
(2) what information he has on the total estimated cost of drilling 200 to 240 boreholes as envisaged by Nirex as part of the preliminary trial at Dounreay; what is the estimated cost incurred in carrying out a single borehole; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe technical and commercial details of the seismic survey are operational matters for the chairman of UK Nirex Ltd. and I have arranged for him to write to the hon. Lady with the information requested. I will also arrange for a copy of this letter to be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he intends to hold concerning any decision to extend the number of boreholes after the preliminary trial in which Nirex proposes to drill 200 to 240 boreholes and use explosive charges for seismic survey of Dounreay.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 7 May 1991]: None. UK Nirex Ltd. has planning permission to drill up to 6,000 shot-holes as part of its seismic survey. The eventual number and location of shot-holes are now for Nirex, subject to compliance with the conditions attached to my right hon. Friend's decision. These conditions require Nirex to consult the planning authority and the local authority environmental health department and to notify all occupiers of land within the survey area of the position of boreholes where explosives are to be used.
§ Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in theOfficial Report the comparative costings of Dounreay and Sellafield for the siting of an underground nuclear waste repository; if he will set out the reasons for upholding the Nirex appeal against Highland regional council's planning refusal for further test boring at Dounreay; and if he will now indicate the likely time scale involved for such test boring and an eventual decision on the siting of any proposed nuclear waste repository; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 7 May 1991]: UK Nirex Ltd. estimates that the comparative costs at current prices are:
£ billion Site Repository costs Transport costs1 Dounreay 2.4 1.9 Sellafield 2.5 0.75 1 These figures include new transport infrastructure costs. The reasons for my right hon. Friend's decision to uphold the Nirex appeal are set out in his decision letter of 29 April, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
I understand from Nirex that the seismic tests will be carried out over the next 4 to 6 months. It hopes to be in a position at the end of 1991 to identify a preferred site, which will then be subject to more detailed investigations.
Any resultant proposal to build a deep repository will be subject to a full public inquiry.