§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in developing a waste management and disposal strategy for the sodium in the heat exchange systems at the fast reactors at Dounreay; which consultants have been used; and what estimates have been made of the likely final costs. [29281]
§ Mr. BattleThe UKAEA has developed a strategy for the safe management and disposal of the sodium contained within the Prototype Fast Reactor and the Sodium/Potassium in the Dounreay Fast Reactor. These strategies, and the resultant programmes of work, are agreed with the DTI and the independent Regulators (the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and are currently being implemented. The UKAEA have used a large number of external advisers in the formulation and implementation of their strategies and plans for the two reactors. The choice, selection and record of which advisers have been used is an operational matter for the UKAEA. As it is Government policy to ensure good value for money by tendering for the work, the cost estimates for this work and the contract value which will be subject to tender are commercially confidential.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade concerning how many underground shafts in which radioactive materials have been disposed of the Government has been provided with information by the management of the nuclear power development establishment at Dounreay; and when the information was provided. [29297]
§ Mr. BattleThere is only one nuclear waste shaft at Dounreay, known as the Intermediate Level Waste Shaft. In answer to my hon. Friend's question of 16 December 1997,Official Report, columns 119–20, I have already informed the House that I am considering the UKAEA's recommendations for environmental remediation of the shaft. The waste management issues arising from the use 572W of the shaft as a disposal facility are already in the public domain as part of the process of strict independent regulation. These plans also include the packaging of material in the Wet Silo storage facility ready for its ultimate disposal. The Wet Silo is a fully engineered facility licensed for the storage of radioactive material.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans exist for the decontamination and restoration of the second nuclear waste shaft at Dounreay; and what estimate the Atomic Energy Authority has made of the costs. [29283]
§ Mr. BattleThere is only one nuclear waste shaft at Dounreay, known as the Intermediate Level Waste Shaft. I have already informed the House that I am considering the UKAEA's recommendations for environmental remediation of the shaft in my answer to my hon. Friend's related question of 16 December 1997,Official Report, columns 119–20.