I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 59 together.
Earlier this month, my Department responded to the UK Environment agency's public consultation on the agency's proposals for the future regulation of technetium-99 discharges from Sellafield. The agency's proposals in respect of technetium-99 form part of a wider review by the agency of its authorisations for the discharge of all radioactive waste from Sellafield.
Technetium-99 is a long-lasting radionuclide, which arises from the reprocessing of Magnox fuel, and is discharged from the Sellafield site to the Irish Sea. The UK Environment agency's consultation paper identified and assessed a number of options which the agency is considering for the future regulation of technetium-99 discharges. The options ranged from reducing immediately the authorised discharge limit for technetium-99 to 10 terabecquerels per year, to retaining the existing limit of 90 terabecquerels per year. In summary, the agency's paper proposed the retention until 2006 of the current discharge limit of 90 terabecquerels per year, which would be reduced to 10 terabecquerels per year from 2006, or earlier, depending on abatement technologies.
In its response to the agency's consultation paper, my Department, while reiterating the Government's call for a cessation of radioactive discharges to the Irish Sea and for an end to reprocessing, called for an immediate reduction in the discharge authorisation limit for technetium-99 to 10 terabecquerels per year, as being the only option identified in the agency's consultation paper that most closely conforms to the OSPAR strategy commitments.