After receiving a answer to his Parliamentary Question asking the Defence Secretary to name the list of sites on the secret nuclear dump list, Alan Reid promised to continue his campaign to stop the nuclear waste from old submarines coming to Argyll & Bute.

In his written answer, Defence Minister Quentin Davies refused to reveal the sites on the secret list, but wrote,
“There are currently four regions where there are MOD or defence-related commercial sites that are likely to be considered for Submarine Dismantling Project activities. These regions are Devon, Fife, Argyll and Bute and Berkshire.”
Since MOD or defence-related commercial sites are being considered, this would appear to narrow the shortlist of sites in Argyll & Bute down to Coulport, Faslane, Glen Douglas and Machrihanish.

Alan Reid said,
“I am disappointed that the Government is still refusing to publish their shortlist. This secrecy will only lead to speculation about which places are on the secret list. Coulport, Faslane, Glen Douglas and Machrihanish are all totally unsuitable for a nuclear waste dump. Being labelled a nuclear dump would be a severe blow to tourism in Argyll & Bute.

“I find it astonishing that Sellafield, in Cumbria, is not on the list. When a submarine is decommissioned, the uranium fuel elements are removed from the reactor compartment and are then transported for storage at Sellafield. Since Sellafield already has a nuclear waste dump, it seems an obvious candidate for the remaining nuclear waste from the submarines. Using an existing nuclear waste store would make far more sense that constructing a new nuclear waste dump elsewhere.

“I will keep up the campaign to stop the waste coming to Argyll & Bute.”
 
NOTES: Reply to Alan Reid’s Question follows
 
Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sites his Department is considering for the submarine dismantling and radioactive waste storage elements of the Submarine Dismantling Project. [297838]
 
Mr. Quentin Davies: There are currently four regions where there are MOD or defence-related commercial sites that are likely to be considered for Submarine Dismantling Project activities. These regions are Devon, Fife, Argyll and Bute and Berkshire. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Bill Rammell) has written to certain elected representatives, including my hon. Friend, in those regions.
 
The project is at an early stage in the process to develop an effective public consultation and associated strategic environmental assessment. This work has included identification of existing nuclear sites, both defence and civil, that are technically capable of submarine dismantling or storing the resultant radioactive waste. At this stage, two sites have been identified that could be technically capable of carrying out dismantling activities and 12 sites have been identified that could be technically capable of carrying out waste storage. Technical capability is only one aspect and the wider suitability of sites has not yet been assessed.
 
Further analysis work is still required and, until the public consultation is complete, no decisions will be taken on sites for either submarine dismantling or waste storage. I am withholding details of the individual sites identified at this time, as the MOD intend to publish this information in the future as part of the planned public consultation and strategic environmental assessment.