§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from the Government of Norway regarding emissions from Sellafield. [48043]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs met the Norwegian Environment Minister, Borge Brende in December 2001. They discussed a number of issues, including Norway's concerns about radioactive discharges from Sellafield. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs also exchanged letters with Mr. Brende following that meeting. I also met Mr. Brende immediately prior to the fifth North Sea Conference of Ministers in Bergen on 20 March. A number of issues were discussed at that meeting and Mr. Brende re-iterated his concerns about Sellafield discharges, especially those of technetium-99.292W In January of this year I also discussed Sellafield with members of the Standing Committee on Energy and Environment of the Norwegian Storting (Parliament).