HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 cc414-5W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will identify the location of the site for the disposal of nuclear waste referred to as site 6. [297]

Mr. Battle

Following the dismissal of Nirex's appeal against refusal of planning permission for a Rock Characterisation Facility at Sellafield, the company has no plans to commence investigations at sites there or elsewhere. Revealing the location of potential sites in these circumstances could unnecessarily cause anxiety to people living nearby.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade over what time scale radioactive wastes arising from the reprocessing of Italian Magnox fuel will be returned to their country of origin. [1796]

Mr. Battle

The magnox reprocessing contract with ENEL signed in 1979 included an option for BNFL to return waste to Italy. The contract, and its terms, has been the subject of an exchange of Letters between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Italy.

Wastes arising from the reprocessing of the fuel will be returned to their country of origin as soon as it practicable. BNFL is currently negotiating with ENEL on the form and timescale for such waste return.

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