Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of proposals for a geological facility for radioactive waste up to 20 kilometres from land with the UK's obligations under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic.

The Government considers that the safe and secure permanent disposal of radioactive waste in a geological disposal facility is not incompatible with the OSPAR1 strategy to prevent pollution of the maritime area from ionising radiation.

The design and location of a geological disposal facility in the UK has yet to be determined. Full consideration of all UK obligations under international treaties will be taken into account in deciding on the design and location of the facility.

[1] OSPAR (2003) Radioactive Substances Strategy. In: 2003 Strategies of the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR 2003-21. OSPAR, London.