I fully share the Deputy's concerns in this matter.
The Irish Sea has been used for the shipment of spent nuclear fuel and plutonium to and from Sellafield for several years. Up to now the route for transporting materials from Europe for reprocessing at Sellafield has been by rail and ferry. While British Nuclear Fuel's transport arrangements are not subject to public consultation, they have disclosed their intention to use an irradiated fuel carrier to transport materials direct from European ports. It is claimed that the rerouted European business will not increase the throughput at Barrow because the bulk of spent fuel from Japan for reprocessing has already arrived at Sellafield.
I am somewhat, but not greatly, reassured by the fact that before direct shipments from European ports at Barrow-on-Furness can begin, the relevant requirements of the International Maritime Organisation Code on the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuels (the INF Code) must be met and registerd as such with the United Kingdom's Marine Safety Agency. Advance notification of voyages through territorial waters of coastal states will also have to be given.