§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which282W countries have sent radioactive material to the United Kingdom for disposal since 2001; and what charges were levied; [128107]
(2) how many shipments of radioactive waste have been sent abroad to be disposed of since 2001; and what the destination countries were. [128108]
§ Mr. MorleyImports and exports of radioactive waste into, out of, or through the European Union are controlled under European Commission Directive 92/3 Euratom. This Directive is implemented into UK law by the Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations 1993. Authorisations under the regulations are administered in England and Wales by the Environment Agency, in Scotland by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and in Northern Ireland by the Environment and Heritage Service.
Under the regulations three shipments of radioactive waste into the UK have been authorised since 2001. Small quantities of mixed solid and liquid laboratory wastes were received from the British Antarctic Survey in 2001 and 2002, and contaminated oilfield equipment was received from Norway in 2002. No charges have been levied by the regulatory bodies for issuing an authorisation. Any other costs involved are a commercial matter for the consigners and/or consignees, as relevant.
No shipments of radioactive waste for disposal have been sent abroad from the UK since 2001.