HC Deb 18 October 1991 vol 196 c296W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received any communication from or had any meeting with the chairman of Scottish Nuclear since July on the matter of the long-term managment of spent nuclear fuel in dry storage facilities at reactor sites in Scotland.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

A number of communications have been received from Scottish Nuclear Ltd. on the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. These are being considered.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether Nuclear Electric sought any increase in its external financing limit controlled by his Department to underwrite the agreement made with British Nuclear Fuels on 4 September to reprocess Magnox and AGR fuel at Sellafield.

Mr. Healthcoat-Amory

No.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the volume of(a) low-level radioactive waste, (b) intermediate-level radioactive waste and (c) high-level radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of imported spent nuclear fuel at (i) Sellafield and (ii) Dounreay; and how much of each category of waste, respectively, has been returned to the country of origin under contractual obligations since July 1987.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Imported spent nuclear fuel reprocessed to date will give rise to the following approximate volumes of radioactive waste:

cm
(a) Sellafield
high-level waste 30
intermediate-level waste 2,500
low-level waste 50,000
(b) Dounreay
intermediate-level waste 200

Arrangements for the contractual return of wastes are being developed.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he had any meetings with the chairman of Nuclear Electric(a) between 1 August to 3 September and (b) from 4 September to the present to discuss the long-term plans for the management, storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from Nuclear Electric's power stations.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of Nuclear Electric plc to discuss a range of matters relating to the company's business.