§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact in the UK of Euratom Directive 96/29 on(a) radioactive waste management policy for low activity, short-lived waste, (b) the recycling of mildly radioactively contaminated metals and (c) the existing regulations covering exposure of nuclear industry workforce to radiation. [54865]
§ Mr. MealeCouncil Directive 96/29 Euratom, to be implemented by Member States by 13 May 2000, constitutes an updating of earlier standards in the light of more recent knowledge and its impact will not, therefore, be great. It lays down basic safety standards for the protection of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation; this area is already well regulated and the strict international standards governing it are, and will continue to be, applied rigorously.
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 currently regulate exposures to ionising radiations in all industries, including nuclear. Since 1985, the exposure of nuclear workers has decreased considerably, and therefore, the impact of the Directive will be limited. Earlier this year, the Health and Safety Commission published a Consultative Document containing proposals for revised Ionising Radiations Regulations and supporting Approved Code of Practice in response to the revised Directive. The Health and Safety Executive is currently considering the responses.
Consideration is being given to those aspects of the Directive implemented by the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (RSA 93) and associated regulations which control the disposal of radioactive substances on non-nuclear sites. A consultation document will be issued in due course on the principles involved.