HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 c80W
Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from Northern Ireland on the new Sellafield thermal oxide reprocessing plant.

Mr. Maclean

My Department has received approximately 80,000 responses regarding the thermal oxide reprocessing plant. However, I am unable to give detailed figures on responses from specific areas of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 January to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field),Official Report, columns 265–66, what consideration is given to issues related to the transport of nuclear material in the decision whether to licence the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

Mr. Maclean

All relevant considerations will be taken into account. Conditions applying to the transport of nuclear material will not however form part of the authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to dispose of radioactive waste from Sellafield. The transport of nuclear material is controlled under a separate regulatory regime which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.