§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals concerning nuclear issues have been tabled for the 16th joint meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions, 13 to 17 June; and if he will place in the Library a summary of them;
(2) what will be the United Kingdom's policy in respect of the proposals concerning nuclear issues at the forthcoming 16th joint meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions; and what are the reasons for this policy;
(3) how the recently announced Department of Environment review of radioactive waste management policy alters the position that the United Kingdom will take at the 16th joint meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions;
(4) what representations his Department is prepared to accept from international organisations or Governments such as the member states of the Oslo and Paris Commissions, in relation to the Department of Environment review of radioactive waste management policy;
(5) what representations his Department has had from Parcom member states regarding the forthcoming 16th joint meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions.
§ Mr. AtkinsDraft recommendations on nuclear issues have been presented jointly by Denmark, Iceland, Ireland and Norway concerning:
- —the management of spent nuclear fuel;
- —environmental impact resulting from discharges of radioactive substances; and
- —increases in radioactive discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants;
The Netherlands has submitted proposals concerning a revised reporting format proposal and Greenpeace has submitted papers on United Kingdom discharge policies and a non-reprocessing option. Copies of the proposals have been placed in the Library.
It is not for one member of the commissions to disclose what has been said to it by other members in the course of negotiations.
The United Kingdom considers that the role of the Oslo and Paris Commissions in radioactivity matters is to protect the marine environment with a general objective of ensuring that best available techniques are applied to inputs of radioactive substances within the appropriate regulatory system. The commissions do not have a role in the decision process for individual plants or management options.
The preliminary conclusions of the review of radioactive waste management policy, announced by my 338W right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 19 May, will not be available until later in the summer. The Department of the Environment will, of course, give full consideration to all representations made in relation to the review.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the voting record of the United Kingdom on nuclear issues at the meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions.
§ Mr. AtkinsSince 1987 there have been seven Paris Commission recommendations on radioactive issues. The United Kingdom has accepted all of these except for the most recent, recommendation 93/5, concerning increases in radioactive discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants where, together with other contracting parties, the United Kingdom reserved its position.