In February 2007, the Royal Society wrote to Professor Sir Howard Dalton FRS (Chief Scientific Adviser for Defra) to express concern about the current developments. The letter emphasised our concern that the reconstituted CoRWM should maintain its independence and capacity to conduct stakeholder engagement and sought clarification of its role in the policy development and implementation process. In addition, we raised concern about the haste with which the site selection process is moving forward, ahead of the establishment of the reconstituted CoRWM. It seems premature to start the more sensitive site selection phase before the new Committee has been set up.
This letter was also sent to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into radioactive waste management.