§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to store used nuclear reactor containers at the Devonport dockyard. [152859]
§ Dr. MoonieAs the Minister for the Armed Forces made clear to the hon. Member during the Westminster Hall Adjournment debate on Radioactive Discharges (River Tamar) on 17 January 2001,Official Report, columns 121–24WH, we currently have no plans to store used nuclear reactor compartments from decommissioned nuclear submarines at Devonport Dockyard. Later this year we shall be inviting industry to put forward their land storage proposals and, although these are likely to include the storage of intact reactor compartments, other options could be proposed. We expect potential storage sites to 602W emerge from this further work. Decisions on the land store method and site will not be taken for some two to three years, and then not until after full consultation with the UK's independent regulators and the public.