THE OSPAR CONVENTION AND RADIOACTIVE DISCHARGES INTO THE SEA

Early day motion 976, tabled 13 July 2000 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House notes the legally binding vote at the June 2000 meeting of the OSPAR Convention in favour of a review of radioactive discharges into the sea with a view to ending the reprocessing and adopting the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel; further notes that the vote was carried nem con with the support of 12 European countries (including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Spain all of whom currently contract for the reprocessing of spent fuel); is aware of the recent statement supported by members of the Japanese Diet critical of the Anglo-Japanese plutonium trade; and urges the Government to recognise the widespread opposition to the environmental and economic impact of nuclear reprocessing throughout Europe and the growing opposition from the general public and parliamentarians in Japan, accept its responsibility as sole shareholder in British Nuclear Fuels Limited and actively support a policy of renegotiation of existing reprocessing contracts into new contracts for the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 10, Scottish National Party 4, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1.