HC Deb 07 December 1992 vol 215 cc462-3W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what modes of transport(a) plutonium, (b) enriched uranium and (c) natural uranium are transported (i) within, (ii) into and (iii) from the United Kingdom; and if he will name in each case the ports used.

Mr. Norris

By land, sea and air. The consignors choose the mode, and port when needed.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the nature and quantity of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste transported by sea to and from, or by, the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Mr. Norris

This information is not held by the Department.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the air freighting of fresh plutonium-bearing nuclear fuel pins from Germany to Dounreay in Scotland.

Mr. Norris

None.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) pursuant to his answer of 24 November,Official Report, column 561, if he will set out the names of the persons with details of their expertise, who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the International Atomic Energy Agency-International Maritime Organisation-United Nations Environment Programme working group on the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel;

(2) pursuant to his answer of 24 November, Official Report, column 561, if he will name the specialists in the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel who will be representing him at the forthcoming joint International Atomic Energy Authority-International Maritime Organisation-United Nations Environment Programme working group meeting.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The Department will be represented by: Mr. K. James, a chartered engineer with 28 years' experience in the transport of hazardous material by sea, chairman of the IMO's sub-committee on the carriage of dangerous goods—CDG; Mr. C. K. Wilson, a physicist specialising in criticality safety and radiological protection with 10 years' experience regulating the transport of radioactive materials; Mr. C. N. Young, a chartered engineer with 14 years' experience in the regulation of radioactive material transport, chairman of the IMO's CDG working group on class 7 dangerous goods—radioactive materials.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department routinely collects and stores centrally on the import and export of nuclear materials by different transport modes to and from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The Department routinely collects that information which is required by the International Atomic Energy Agency publication "Safety Series No. 6: Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material", a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation his Department has made of any of the safety standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency for the international transport of(a) plutonium, (b) enriched uranium, (c) natural uranium and (d) radioactive waste.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The Department is involved in the evaluation of the safety standards for the transport of all radioactive materials on an ongoing basis and is a major contributor to the International Atomic Energy Agency's programme of review and revision of its international regulations.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the advisory committee on the safe transport of radioactive materials; and what matters were discussed and decided.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

This committee was disbanded on 31 January 1989.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy in regard to evaluation of independent reports published on the transport of nuclear materials.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

To consider them on their merits.