This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Review of radioactive waste management
29/07/2002
A new independent body is to be set up to look at the
management of radioactive waste and to carry out a major
programme of research and public discussion on the
issue.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Allan Wilson today announced the formation of the body
following the publication of responses to the consultation
paper,
Managing Radioactive Waste Safely.
Mr Wilson said:
"I am encouraged by the public's overwhelming support
for a new, independent body to look carefully at all the
options for radioactive waste management.
"It is important to establish a body empowered to look
at what information is still needed, and be sufficiently
independent of both government and the nuclear industry. We
will set up the new body at the end of this year.
"We have been given a clear message, from our own
research and now from the responses to the consultation,
that the public think radioactive waste management is
important to them, that we must put the image of secrecy
behind us, and be as open as we can.
"The new body must consult with the public at each stage
of the process, to ensure the chosen option inspires public
confidence and the protection of people and the
environment. We have taken on board the responses to our
consultation; we must now put the conclusions into
practice."
Most respondents to the UK consultation felt that the
decision making process on management options must be open
and inclusive, and should aim to engage as many people as
possible in the debate. This echoes the messages the
Scottish Executive has taken from its own research on how
to involve the people of Scotland.
Ross Finnie today answered a Parliamentary Question from
Jamie Stone MSP giving more detail on the consultation
outcomes. The text is available from the Executive Press
Office.
Regulation of radioactive waste management is a devolved
responsibility of the Scottish Parliament and Executive,
whilst sponsorship of the nuclear industry is a reserved
matter for the UK government.
Managing Radioactive Waste Safely - Proposals for
developing a policy for managing solid radioactive waste in
the UK - was launched in Scotland in September 2001.
Published jointly by the Scottish Executive, the UK
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
and other devolved administrations, it invited views on how
best to take forward a thorough public debate on a proposed
programme and on the form of an independent advisory body.
It did not propose solutions for the management of
radioactive waste.
The Scottish Executive's Central Research Unit (CRU)
commissioned the Scottish Council Foundation (SCF) to
undertake research to identify key elements of public
involvement in Scotland and elsewhere. CRU also
commissioned Scottish Opinion Ltd to carry out an omnibus
(telephone) survey to measure awareness and assess
attitudes to radioactive waste. The SCF report and research
findings for the omnibus survey were published on 4 July
2002.