HC Deb 22 October 1991 vol 196 c516W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the latest estimate of volume of high-level radioactive waste from spent nuclear fuel imported from other nations which will(a) be returned to overseas customers and (b) not returned to overseas customers.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The latest estimate of high-level waste arising from overseas reprocessing contracts entered into by British Nuclear Fuels plc is:

cubic metres
signed before 1976 100
signed since 1976 400

Overseas reprocessing contracts signed since 1976 contain options for the return of wastes. The Government intend that those options should be exercised. Its policy was set out in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986 at columns 500–01.