Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 4 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 February 2003. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Monday, 24 February 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the present discharge unit is for technetium-99; what the analysis of levels of discharge over the last 12 months shows; and what progress has been made in considering the Department's response to recommendations by the Environment Agency in respect of discharge limits.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the present discharge unit is for technetium-99; what the analysis of levels of discharge over the last 12 months shows; and what progress has been made in considering the Department's response to recommendations by the Environment Agency in respect of discharge limits. [96518] Margaret Beckett: The present discharge limit for technetium-99 is 90 TBq/year. In the 12 month period to the end of November 2002, the most up-to-date information currently available, 84.3 TBq of technetium-99 were discharged. On 11 December 2002 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I (the two Ministers with joint responsibility under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993) announced that we saw no reason to direct the Environment Agency to take a different course to the one that the agency had identified in its proposed decision on technetium-99, published in September 2001. At the same time, I sought views on a proposal where I might direct the agency to consider the possibility of a moratorium on technetium-99 discharges pending introduction of TPP-based abatement technology. We are considering the representations received and hope to make a decision on the proposed direction shortly.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 96518; 400 c96-7W;400 c91W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Health hazards Radioactive waste Pollution control Regulation Waste disposal Technetium
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk