§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the specific products and by-products of thermal oxide reprocessing at Sellafield, with their respective levels and life of radioactivity, and volume produce; and if he will indicate the proposed purpose or use of each of these products and by-products.
§ Mr. Eggar[holding answer 5 May 1993]: The thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield will recover uranium and plutonium from spent nuclear fuel. These materials can be recycled in civil power stations. British Nuclear Fuels plc expects that over 6,000 tonnes of uranium and some 40 to 50 tonnes of plutonium will be separated during the first 10 years of THORP's operation.
Following recovery of the uranium and plutonium, the residue, amounting to around 3 per cent. by weight, consists of waste. The long-term radiological content of the waste is lower than that of the spent fuel because the uranium and plutonium have been removed. For the estimated volumes of wastes involved and details of their contents, I refer the hon. Member to the 1991 United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.