UK HAS ALMOST HALF A MILLION CUBIC METRES OF NUCLEAR WASTE

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Sep 2006

Lembit Öpik, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, today revealed the extent of Britain's nuclear waste stockpile.

Speaking at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton, Lembit said: "We now have at least 470,000m3 of hazardous nuclear waste in this country for which we have no disposal plans - enough to fill the Brighton Conference Hall 22 times!

"And there could be even more than this. It seems the Government isn't sure exactly how much nuclear waste we have. Recently, they admitted that an additional 1,200 cubic metres of radioactive sludge had been found in part of Sellafield.

"Both the Tories and Labour are responsible for this radioactive mountain. Since 1976 successive Governments have spent twelve times more money on nuclear energy than on renewable energy.

"Now Tony Blair looks set to repeat the mistakes of the past and build a new generation of nuclear power plants, adding to our enormous stockpile of nuclear waste.

"Wales should have the right to say no to Tony Blair's nuclear plans. Because of their extra powers, the Scottish Parliament can say no to nuclear. It's ridiculous that Wales doesn't have this power.

"Instead of going nuclear again we should be looking to radically overhaul our energy system by focusing on energy conservation, microgeneration and renewable energy. Instead of being walked down the nuclear path by this reactionary Labour Government, Wales should be aiming to become a world leader in renewable energy and green industry."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

In answer to a parliamentary question tabled by Jenny Willott, Welsh Lib Dem MP for Cardiff Central, Malcolm Wicks revealed that an extra 1200m3 of hazardous material had been discovered recently:

Jenny Willott MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much and what types of (a) additional hazardous waste and (b) spent nuclear fuel was discovered at Sellafield recently; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks MP: Work at the Sellafield plant continues in order to gain a full understanding of the nature and extent of hazardous waste on the site. Recent detailed examination of one particular part of the Sellafield complex, the B30 pond, has shown that the volume of sludge is approximately 1,200 cubic metres, which is around 20 per cent. higher than previously thought. There has been no discovery of additional spent nuclear fuel.