Vol. 420 No. 9
86 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline the extent to which, in his view, suggested EC carbon taxes would discriminate in favour of nuclear power in Europe; and the plans, if any, he has to press for a similar tax on nuclear energy to cover liability of monitoring waste for thousands of years, pollution by radiation leakage and risk of serious accident at a plant or during transport.
The proposal presented by the Commission to Council is for a 50:50 energy: carbon tax. As nuclear energy has zero carbon content the nuclear industry would be liable under the tax only in respect of the energy element to the obvious benefit of the industry. I have indicated my concern in regard to this aspect and I will continue to do so in future consideration of the proposal, given the other environmental hazards posed by the nuclear industry.
Whilst I fully appreciate the issue the Deputy has in mind in raising the question of a similar tax on nuclear energy to cover radioactive waste management, pollution and accident risk, I would have considerable doubts as to the practical feasibility of such a proposal. It generally is the primary responsibility of the operators of nuclear facilities to make provision in their operating costs for the long term costs of decommissioning plant and the safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste and the provision of compensation for damage in the case of accidents.
