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Radioactive Waste

Volume 264: debated on Monday 16 October 1995

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter of 12 July, what contribution Her Majesty's Government have made to the international programme set up under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency to consider the implications of past dumping operations; and what requests he has received from the Russian Government for technical help in relation to the Lepse in Murmansk harbour. [37396]

We continue to participate in the international programme established to assess the risks to human health and the environment from radioactive wastes dumped in the Kara and Barents seas, to examine possible remedial actions and to advise on whether any are necessary and justified. This project, managed by the IAEA in co-operation with the Norwegian and Russian Governments, is expected to report in 1996. No specific request to provide technical assistance for the Lepse has been received from the Russian Government. The European Union is, however, proposing to assist the relevant Russian authorities by funding a feasibility study into the options for dealing with the Lepse and the radioactive material stored on board.