§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the priorities in respect of radioactive waste research set out in the European Corn mission's Multi-Annual Framework Programme for Research, COM (2001) 94 Final. [49493]
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
The Government are playing an active role in the negotiations on the content and priorities of the Multi-Annual Framework Programme 2002–06 of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) for research and training, in order to ensure that it reflects UK priorities as far as possible. Radioactive waste research at an EU level will complement research in the UK into the wider range of waste management options described in the consultation document "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" issued in September last year.