§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received concerning the European Union COWAM project on the decision-making process for radioactive waste repository siting. [156373]
§ Mr. MeacherThe National Radiological Protection Board has contacted my officials to discuss the timetable for the COWAM research project in relation to my Department's forthcoming consultation exercise on radioactive waste management.
COWAM is an EU project on public participation in nuclear siting decisions, which will suggest methods of improvement to the decision-making process for siting radioactive waste management facilities. While the 11W Government are content to liaise with the NRPB and its project partners, it is not promoting the use of repositories as the UK waste management option.