To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations exist to cover the safe transport of radioactively contaminated metals from United Kingdom nuclear plants to other member states of the European Union for decontamination treatment. (136354)

In the European Union the regulations to cover the safe transport of radioactive material are contained in the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 2005 Edition and the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) 2005 Edition. These regulations are required to be transposed into domestic regulations by each member state.

In Great Britain the current regulations are the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Regulations 2002, SI 2002 No. 1093 and the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2003, SI 2003 No. 1867 and, for rail transport, the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004, SI 2004 No. 568.

The Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations 1993 SI 1993 No. 3031 may also apply in order to prevent diversion of material.