The noble Lord is right that I have been in the department for seven weeks. My first mission was to go to meet people from Cumbria and Sellafield. It is important that we get some clarity, but it is also right that this process is community-led. If there are clarifications that need to be made, it is right that they are made. We do not want delays further down the process, so it is best that we get clarifications and sort out people’s worries and concerns at the beginning.
Will the Minister tell the House how much consultation is going on with our European partners, particularly with the French and Germans, on the disposal of nuclear waste?
The noble Lord raises an interesting point. Countries, including France, have opted for underground nuclear disposal.