Vol. 413 No. 2
50 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Energy if he has commissioned or plans any study of the environmental implications for this country of the continued expansion and development of the British Nuclear Fuels plant at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My advice is that no overall increase in discharges from Sellafield as a whole is expected when the Thorp plant is operational, because extra treatment equipment has been commissioned. I also understand that reductions in discharges from existing installations at Sellafield are also planned. My Department and the Nuclear Energy Board will keep in close touch with developments in relation to the construction and operation of the plant.
As regards the proposed underground repository for nuclear waste at Sellafield an environmental impact statement will be submitted by UK Nirefix and when application is made for planning permission for the proposed repository. The statement will be most carefully studied by my Department and the Nuclear Energy Board.
There is already in place a radioactivity monitoring programme which monitors radioactive emissions from all sources, particularly from Sellafield, on a continuing basis throughout the country. This programme which is implemented by the Nuclear Energy Board on behalf of my Department, involves monitoring of radioactivity levels in soil, sheep, crops, water, air and in the marine environment.
