Britain becoming world's nuclear waste dump

12.32.51pm GMT Wed 1st Mar 2006

DEFRA today published proposals today for the long-term management of solid low-level radioactive waste in the UK.

To coincide, the Liberal Democrats have released the results of research based on parliamentary answers that reveals just how much waste the UK has created from reprocessing since 1976.

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Norman Baker MP, said:

"Britain is fast becoming the world's radioactive dustbin.

"It is dishonest of Ministers to state that they do not allow the importation of radioactive waste, but then create tens of thousands of tonnes from imported spent fuel.

"The cost of cleaning up radioactive waste currently held in Britain stands at £56billion. Whether they intend to return this waste back to its country of origin is a question that the Government must answer."