Dounreay nuclear power plant

The government is to invite the administrations in Scotland and Wales, as well as local authorities, to take part in talks on the long-term disposal of radioactive waste.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, environment secretary David Miliband said the government had made it clear it "was not seeking to impose radioactive waste on any community".

He referred to the findings of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which has backed geological disposal - storing the high level waste produced by nuclear reactors deep underground.

He said the committee had noted it was a method being adopted by countries including Finland, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the US.

"The circumstances surrounding the long term disposal of higher activity radioactive waste are unique," he said.

"We have made it clear that we are not seeking to impose radioactive waste on any community.

"In this context, we are strongly supportive of exploring the concept of voluntarism and partnership arrangements with the local authorities serving communities who might be affected."

Miliband said the issue of nuclear waste disposal had "dogged successive governments", but the report by the CoRWM provided a "very strong basis for moving forward" on a "staged basis" over time.

The responsibility for securing geological disposal for high level waste would now fall to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Miliband said.

The NDA already deals with low level waste, which can be produced by hospitals and industry.

He also said a successor committee to the CoRWM - sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry and the administrations in Scotland and Wales - will be established to advise on plans for long-term management of the waste.

Miliband said: "I invite any local authority, or group of local authorities, who wishes to be involved in these discussions to contact myself, environment minister Ian Pearson, or my officials directly. Similar invitations are being extended by my colleagues in devolved administrations."

He went on: "Governments of all parties have struggled to develop a long-term approach to this issue founded on science and driven by openness and transparency.

"I believe my statement today combines scientific rigour and clear accountability."