To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on its policies for the management of nuclear waste; and what contribution such discussions have made to the formulation of UK policy. (188316)

DEFRA has lead responsibility for radioactive waste policy and was involved in discussions in early February with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the US Administration about the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. This included potential opportunities for sharing international best practice and technology development in waste management and disposal.

In formulating its recommendations to Government for the long term management of higher activity radioactive waste, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management engaged a wide range of international experts including a number of US specialists. The Committee's recommendations provided a strong basis for the Government consultation 'A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal' that closed on 2 November 2007.