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Parliamentarians hear from UK waste committee chief |
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The most recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy took place in July. Gordon MacKerron, Chair of CoRWM (Committee on Radioactive Waste Management), addressed the group on waste management decisions.
The most recent meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy took place in July. Gordon MacKerron, Chair of CoRWM (Committee on Radioactive Waste Management), addressed the group on waste management decisions. He covered the guiding principles of the make-up of the group and revealed the programme of work the committee has embarked upon. Their remit is to assess waste management options for all catagories of radioactive material and classification of waste, and to report their findings to Government by mid 2006. They are undertaking extensive public and stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
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| Decommissioning at Winfrith - but a final waste disposal solution is needed and CoRWM are charged with analysing the options |
The main sticking point with Parliamentarians appears to be the question of timescale; some Members and Lords feel that extending the reporting deadline to July 2006 is only delaying a much needed decision on the long term future of radioactive material in the UK. Some are concerned that this will also create an obstacle to any potential new build. Mr MacKerron is resolute that their terms of reference will not be fulfilled effectively if the deadline is brought forward.
The committee will take all existing reports and research into account and liaise with all parties involved, such as Nirex and the NDA, as well as the public and the media. The question of possible waste from potential future reactors will also be considered and accounted for and visits abroad will be necessary as part of the work programme. Ethical issues will also be analysed and ethicists brought in to comment on issues such as the question of transporting our own waste to other countries. CoRWM are operating a policy of transparency and many of their meetings take place in public. All paperwork and reports are published on their website at www.corwm.org
Five members of the All Party Group on Nuclear Energy, accompanied by Keith Parker and Miranda Kirschel of NIA, visited Sellafield on 29/30 April. The condition of some of the legacy parts of the site aroused concern for some Parliamentarians, but they were very impressed with the way other parts of the site have developed and progressed, and were particularly pleased to see the facilities available to graduates and young people in the industry at the BTC (technology centre).
A very worthwhile meeting of the All Party Group took place in May on the global aspects surrounding nuclear energy in terms of climate change presented by John Ritch of the World Nuclear Association, and on security of supply, by Professor John Gittus. Profesor Gittus analysed the risks of interruptions in Britain's energy supply in the next 20 years based on insurance data, and proposed possible policy solutions. The Chair of the group, Bill Tynan MP, and two Vice Chairs, Lord Jenkin of Roding and Lord MacNally subsequently accompanied Professor Gittus to a meeting with Stephen Timms MP, so that the Energy Minister and his officials could hear Professor Gittus's views. The group have also looked at future technology options being developed at present through Generation IV with Helen Leiser from the US Department of Energy and Richard Mayson of BNFL and the benefits that these hi-tech systems offer. The group's work has been invaluable in stimulating discussion and improving awareness, and their findings have often been quoted during debates in Parliament.
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