(Minister for Business and
Industry): Today I am pleased to designate the
National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure,
which was laid in parliament on 4 July.
This is an important milestone in finding a solution to manage
the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste and this marks the
final step in the parliamentary process for the National Policy
Statement.
It is important that we who have benefitted from nuclear
technology take appropriate steps now to manage the waste created
from using that technology. Nuclear technology has provided clean
energy to our homes and businesses and will continue to play an
important role as we transition to a carbon neutral economy. For
a long time, we have also used radioactive materials to treat and
diagnose serious illnesses, to deliver research and development
and to help deliver industrial processes. Radioactive waste is
created from a variety of sources including electricity
generation, defence and healthcare, and geological disposal is
internationally recognised as the safest and most secure means of
permanently managing a proportion of this waste not suitable for
other management regimes.
The National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal
Infrastructure sets out the need for such disposal infrastructure
to safely and securely manage the UK’s higher activity
radioactive wastes. The National Policy Statement provides an
appropriate and effective framework for the Planning Inspectorate
and the Secretary of State for the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy to examine and make decisions on
development consent applications for geological disposal
infrastructure in England
In order to support the requirements for the designation of the
National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure,
I am also publishing the Final Habitats Regulations Assessment
Report and the Post Adoption Statement for the Appraisal of
Sustainability on the department’s website.
