OSPAR RADIOACTIVE DISCHARGES WORKING GROUP

Early day motion 50, tabled 26 November 1998 by Joan Walley (Labour). Signed by 120 members.

That this House congratulates the Government on signing the OSPAR resolution on radioactive discharges to the sea; notes that the resolution commits the United Kingdom to achieving 'substantial reductions or elimination' of radioactive discharges by the year 2000, and to achieving 'close to zero' concentrations of radioactivity in the environment by the year 2020; further notes that reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is the largest source of radioactivity discharges into the north-east Atlantic; believes that it is technically feasible to significantly reduce these discharge levels by placing all spent nuclear fuel in dry, above ground stores instead of reprocessing, with the added advantage of not adding further to the plutonium stockpile; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to draft a plan of action for submission to the OSPAR Radioactive Discharges Working Group which proposes storing all spent nuclear fuel instead of reprocessing as the way to substantially reduce discharge levels to the marine environment by the year 2000.

Signatures by party: Labour 81, Liberal Democrat 21, Labour/Co-operative 5, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 4, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.