§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the ability of the UK's intermediate and high level nuclear waste storage facilities to withstand terrorist attack. [25891]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 15 January 2002]: The UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. The security regulator works closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the safety regulator, which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes, at nuclear installations. Security and safety precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review. Both regulators are reviewing all relevant precautions in the light of the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites.
§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the(a) annual cost of maintaining the nuclear waste storage facilities at Sellafield and Dounreay and (b) the forecast for the annual running and maintenance costs over the next 50 years.
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 15 January 2002]: I am advised by UKAEA and BNFL that the current total annual cost of maintaining radioactive waste storage facilities at Dounreay is £12 million, and at Sellafield is £50 million, while the forecast total running and maintenance cost of radioactive waste storage facilities over the next 50 years at Dounreay is £450 million and at Sellafield is £1,100 million.
All figures are at 2001–02 money values and include overheads.