§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had about the discharge authorisations for the Dounreay nuclear site; with whom the discussions took place; and what the outcome is of such discussions. [14284]
§ Mr. ChisholmIn the first instance it is for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to determine the terms of the discharge authorisations for the Dounreay Nuclear site. In March 1997 SEPA consulted the then Secretary of State on the terms of revised discharge authorisations which it proposed to grant. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State subsequently noted that the authorisations which SEPA proposed to make differed significantly from those on which the initial consultation was based. In August he therefore asked SEPA to conduct a further round of consultation based on the authorisations it is minded to grant, to ensure that the widest range of views is obtained. Arrangements to conduct this fresh round of consultation are now well advanced.
My right hon. Friend has not held discussions with other parties about the discharge authorisations.