Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 10 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 October 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Friday, 14 October 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Radioactivity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the British-Irish council (a) she has and (b) her Ministers have attended since 1 January 2000; on how many occasions the issue of Sellafield and associated radioactivity matters was raised; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has not attended any of the meetings of the British-Irish council since 1 January 2000. My predecessor and I have attended six meetings of the British-Irish council environment sectoral group. The issue of Sellafield and associated radioactivity matters has been raised at five of those meetings.Ireland and the Isle of Man tabled a revised version of a joint discussion paper on Sellafield and radioactive waste at the fifth meeting of the British-Irish council on 8 July 2004. Detailed consideration of the paper has been deferred until the legal action initiated by Ireland under the UN convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) against the UK over Sellafield has been resolved.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 17176; 437 c617W;437 c623W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Radioactivity
Monday, 7 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Radioactive waste Republic of Ireland Sellafield Irish Sea