HC Deb 03 November 1998 vol 318 cc513-4W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of irradiated spent magnox fuel imported from Italy are currently in store at Sellafield; and what safeguards are applied to this spent fuel. [57097]

Mr. Battle

Individual quantities of spent fuel stored or reprocessed at Sellafield for specific customers are a commercial matter for BNFL and their customers. All civil nuclear material in the United Kingdom is subject to Euratom and IAEA safeguards.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on policy in the United Kingdom of the decision by the German Government on 20 October to change their policy in respect of support for nuclear fuel reprocessing. [57091]

Mr. Battle

The new German Government have so far given only the outline of their policy on nuclear issues, including reprocessing of spent fuel. The details, including the implications for British Nuclear Fuels' reprocessing contracts with the German power utilities, remain to be clarified.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made with the Italian authorities for the return of reprocessing wastes from Sellafield. [57094]

Mr. Battle

Since 1976 all new contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for return of wastes. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes arising from reprocessing be returned to the country of origin. It has been the practice of successive Governments to obtain, before a contract for the reprocessing of foreign spent fuel is signed, assurances from the relevant government that it will take no legislative or regulatory steps to prevent the return of wastes arising 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. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of(a) low level, (b) intermediate level and (c) high level radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of irradiated spent magnox fuel from Italy are currently stored at Sellafield; and if these wastes are covered by return-to-sender contractual obligations in the reprocessing contracts with Italy. [57096]

Mr. Battle

Each tonne of spent nuclear fuel reprocessed gives rise to approximately four cubic metres of low level waste containing 0.001 per cent. of the radioactivity, one cubic metre of intermediate level waste containing 1 per cent. of the radioactivity, and one tenth of one cubic metre of high level waste containing 1 per cent. of the radioactivity, and one tenth of one cubic metre of high level waste containing 99 per cent. of the radioactivity. Individual quantities of spent fuel stored or reprocessed at Sellafield for specific customers are a commercial matter for BNFL and its customers. Since 1976 all new contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for return of wastes. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes arising from reprocessing be returned to the country of origin.