HC Deb 19 October 1992 vol 212 cc225-6W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present position of the application by UK Nirex Ltd. to seek permission to(a) sink bore holes and (b) construct an underground rock research laboratory, in connection with plans to assess the suitability of the area adjoining Sellafield for a radioactive waste repository.

Mr. Maclean

Following UK Nirex's appeal against the Lake District Special Planning Board's refusal to allow its application for planning permission to drill boreholes 8 and 9 in the national park, and Cumbria county council's refusal of planning permission to drill borehole 11 outside the national park, a public inquiry is due to start on 24 November. I understand that the Lake District Special Planning Board has also refused permission to drill borehole 9A in the national park and that Cumbria county council has not yet reached a decision on Nirex's application to drill borehole 13. No application to construct an underground rock research laboratory has been made by Nirex.