HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 cc124-5W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what means exist for the on-site treatment at AWE Aldermaston of solid radioactive wastes arising from operations at the site.

Mr. Aitken

Apart from limited compaction facilities, there are no facilities at AWE for the treatment of solid radioactive waste. All solid radioactive wastes are either disposed via authorised routes, such as Drigg, or stored safely and securely pending the availability of the Nirex repository.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in resolving the outstanding problems of radioactive waste management, with particular reference to the disposal of radioactive resins arising from submarine reactors, and the measurement and categorisation of plutonium contaminated material, identified at paragraph 6.9 of the 12th annual report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee in 1991.

Mr. Aitken

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 13 May 1993, at column571.