§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 900, what is the estimated cost of decommissioning the Herald reactor at AWE Aldermaston; and what is the current timetable for this decommissioning.
§ Mr AitkenThe current timetable for decommissioning the Herald reactor at AWE Aldermaston in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Authority's guidelines is(a) stage 1—storage with surveillance, which is expected to be completed in January 1995; (b) stage 2—restricted site release, which is expected to take place during 1997–98; and (c) stage 3—unrestricted site release. There will be a gap of at least 50 years before stage 3 can begin, during which time the remaining structure will be kept under periodic surveillance and maintenace. The estimated cost of this decommissioning is some £8 million.