Vol. 462 No. 5
33 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the representations, if any, he has made to the United States of America on whether to resume its previous policy of nuclear reprocessing in view of the fact that if reprocessing is resumed, plants in the United Kingdom will also be used for reprocessing. [3092/96]
The Department of Foreign Affairs has informed my Department that the US Government's position is to discourage reprocessing internationally. I am advised that, domestically, the US do not carry out nuclear reprocessing, except where it may be necessary for environmental reasons, for example, where there is old material in the system and there is a need to run it to clean it out.
At present, nuclear materials in the US are stored in wet and dry repositories. The US are currently exploring the possibilities for storing materials in a deep geological repository, but they emphasise that this is very much a long-term option.
