§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent report she has received364W in respect of the state of (a)concrete and (b)steel structures at the reactor at Sellafield where the fire took place in 1957. [47036]
§ Mr. WilsonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any recent reports about the concrete or steel structures in Windscale Pile One.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response she has received from the Atomic Energy Authority, regarding the review which has been undertaken in respect of the reactor at Sellafield where the fire took place in 1957. [47035]
§ Mr. WilsonThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has initiated a comprehensive technical review of the second stage decommissioning of Windscale Pile One. This review is on-going, and is likely to take several years to complete. UKAEA and the regulator, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the HSE, will need to be satisfied with the final proposal for decommissioning before the project progresses and will ensure the reactor remains in a safe and stable condition throughout.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts have been made towards establishing a decommissioning strategy for the reactor known as Pile 2 reactor at Sellafield. [47034]
§ Mr. WilsonAll the fuel was removed from the Windscale Pile Two reactor soon after it was shut down in 1957. Since then it has been maintained in a safe and passive state of care and maintenance, pending decommissioning and dismantling at a later stage.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is currently discussing a strategy for the future management of Pile Two with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the HSE. The current plan is to decommission and dismantle the reactor in 2040–50.