§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the DETR regarding the implications of the OSPAR agreement for continued operation of the Chapelcross tritium production facility. [67211]
§ Mr. SpellarThe MOD has not yet held discussions with the Department of the Environment, Transport, and Regions (DETR) on this matter. However, nuclear operators are having to consider how to achieve the targets set by OSPAR in July 1998 for reductions in discharges. I understand that the DETR are shortly to start discussions with operators, including BNFL who operate Chapelcross, so that proposals and programmes can be produced for presentation to OSPAR in 2000.