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Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour) on Thursday, 9 May 2013, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 May 2013. It was answered by Baroness Verma (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 May 2013.

Energy: Nuclear Waste

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in preparing a prioritised assessment of locations for the storage of future nuclear waste; and what arrangements they have made to improve the security of existing and currently produced nuclear waste.[HL125]

Answer

As part of its agreed strategy, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is investigating options for waste storage, including whether to consolidate the wastes that it owns to reduce the number of existing storage locations. Other waste owners are also being considered. This work has already resulted in the publication of several studies.

In respect of the waste from any new nuclear power stations, it is currently anticipated that this waste will be held in safe and secure interim storage on the power station site until it can be disposed of. The Nuclear National Policy Statement, published in June 2011, set out the results of a strategic siting assessment designed to identify sites in England and Wales that are potentially suitable for the deployment of new nuclear power stations by the end of 2025.

A robust security regulatory framework is in place across the industry, with compliance and enforcement overseen by the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), which operates under the established principle of continuous improvement.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL125; 745 c51WA
Session
2013-14
Subjects
Radioactive waste Security Storage Waste management
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk