LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF UK'S NUCLEAR WASTE

EDM number 718 in 2003-04, proposed by Mark Tami on 26/02/2004.

That this House believes that the challenge of dealing with the UK's nuclear waste is a major ethical, economic and political priority; and welcomes the Secretary of State for the Environment's Answer of 16th July 2003 which announced an important step forward in reaching a policy for the long-term management of the UK's radioactive waste by announcing the establishment of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) and set out the Government's position on Nirex, in particular recognising the important role which Nirex has in contributing to the development of a policy which is publicly acceptable; agrees with the Government's position that 'It is important that the company (Nirex) can do this from a position where it is, and can be seen to be, independent of (the nuclear) industry'; notes that the options which might meet the 'independence of industry' and 'under greater government control' criteria are being jointly evaluated by DTI and DEFRA; and seeks an early announcement of how the decision to make Nirex independent will be carried out so that Nirex along with other stakeholders can best contribute to the work of CoRWM as it assesses the options for long-term management of radioactive waste in the UK.

This motion has been signed by a total of 48 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.