§ Mr. BakerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total volume of reprocessed spent nuclear fuel exported for each year since 1990 broken down to show(a) high level, (b) intermediate level and (c) low level waste indicating countries of destination. [26980]
91W
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 2 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on 5 February 1998, Official Report, column 787. British Nuclear Fuels plc have, since 1990, imported 1,700 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel of reprocessing. The fuel is stored in ponds at the Sellafield site on receipt. The majority of the fuel imported since 1990 will be reprocessed during the coming years. Reprocessing involves using a number of chemical processes to separate the reusable uranium (96%) and plutonium (1%) from the 3% waste products contained in spent fuel. Reprocessing separates out the constituent parts of spent fuel, and material for export is not regarded as reprocessed spent nuclear fuel.
The UKAE have, since 1990, imported almost 4 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing. The nuclear material which will be separated as a result of reprocessing of this fuel (namely uranium and plutonium) may be returned to the country of origin. The total amount of nuclear material exported since 1990 is 1 tonne and countries of destination include Germany, Netherlands and France.
Since 1976, all new contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained option for the return of wastes. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that such wastes should be returned to the countries of origin.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what attempts are made by Her Majesty's Government to assess the adequacy of disposal facilities and plans for radioactive waste management in countries using United Kingdom reprocessing facilities in advance of approving applications for the import of spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing under contracts which include a return-to-sender commitment covering radioactive waste arising from reprocessing. [279891
§ Mr. BattleIt has been the practice of successive Governments to obtain, before a contract for the reprocessing of foreign spent nuclear fuel is signed, assurances from the relevant government that it will take no legislative or regulatory steps to prevent the return of arising wastes under the contract. The adequacy of the facilities for managing those wastes is a matter for their owners and the regulatory authorities of the country concerned in accordance with the relevant legislation of that country.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the forecast demand for the mixed plutonium and uranium oxide fuel from the MOX plant at Sellafield; and which countries(a) have signed contracts and (b) expressed interest in contracting for the purchase of fuel. [28272]
§ Mr. BattleDetails of particular contracts for MOX fuel fabrication are a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) and their customers. However, BNFL have already supplied some of their European reprocessing customers with MOX fuel from the existing demonstration plant at Sellafield. As regards the expected demand for MOX fuel from the new plant, I refer the hon. Member to the report, produced by PA Consulting for the Environment Agency, entitled "Assessment of BNFL's Economic Case for the Sellafield Mox Plant: Public92W Domain Version" which is currently the subject of a public consultation being undertaken by the Agency. A copy of the report is in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the financial consequences of recovering plutonium from spent nuclear reactor fuel. [28278]
§ Mr. BattleThe financial case for recovering plutonium from spent nuclear reactor fuel is for the owners of the spent fuel to assess, taking into account the need to satisfy the requirements laid down by the United Kingdom's regulatory authorities.