Dounreay (Debate on reprocessing)

In an adjournment debate the issue of reprocessing nuclear material at Dounreay was discussed. The Scottish Nationalist Party's view that foreign spent nuclear fuel should not be sent to Dounreay for storage or reprocessing was expressed. The accusation was made that there has been a conspiracy of silence between the nuclear industry and the Government on providing information about the contracts that have been signed for Dounreay. Several examples are given, notably one with Iraq to reprocess nuclear fuel. However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy denied that there had been any secrecy and made it clear that it was nuclear fuel not nuclear waste which Dounreay reprocesses. He then reassured the House that Scotland would not become a dumping place for overseas nuclear waste. Waste from reprocessing would be returned to the country of origin. The debate lasted twenty-nine minutes and is reported verbatim. (UK)