Written question asked by Martin Salter (Labour) on Monday, 8 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 March 1999. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Monday, 15 March 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Hunting-Brae over replacing the Pangbourne Pipeline with an Evaporator following the enforcement notice served on AWE Aldermaston by the Environment Agency.

Answer: Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Hunting-Brae over replacing the Pangbourne pipeline with an evaporator following the enforcement notice served on AWE Aldermaston by the Environment Agency. [76018] Mr. Spellar: The Enforcement Notice served on 9 February made no reference to the Pangbourne pipeline. There is no requirement at present to replace it. However, AWE has for some years been examining the best environmental choices for all its discharges, which includes consideration of evaporators and absorbers and the MOD Compliance Office at Aldermaston have been involved in this work. If, at some point in the future, replacement is considered necessary, AWE, the Ministry of Defence and the Environment Agency will have to be satisfied that any alternative offers environmental advantages over the present system.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 76018; 327 c505W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Environment protection Enforcement notices Radioactive waste Pipelines Waste disposal AWE Aldermaston Hunting-BRAE