§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out an explanation for the inclusion at paragraph 14 of the description of vote 5 of class VII supply estimates for 1994–95 on central environmental services, of a potential expenditure arising from the indemnification by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority of certain ship owners in respect of third parties arising from dumping of radioactive waste at sea.
§ Mr. AtkinsDetails of the potential expenditure were laid before the House in a minute dated 17 August 1978, Cmnd. 7316, a copy of which is in the Library. The liability, previously contained on a token subhead, has, since the minute was first presented, been replaced by the reference in paragraph 14 of the introduction to class VIII, vote 5. The reference relates only to potential claims form persons in countries which are not parties to the Paris convention on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy. The United Kingdom ceased sea dumping of radioactive waste in 1982.