CALL FOR N-WASTE BURIALS.

Byline: By MARK SMITH

THE UK's most dangerous nuclear waste will be buried deep underground - but probably not in Scotland, the Government revealed yesterday.

Ministers backed an expert report in August which recommended digging a kilometre-deep store for "higher activity" radioactive waste.

Local councils will be invited to bid for the facility, which would guarantee jobs for generations - but it is unlikely the dump will be in Scotland.

Highland Council, whose area includes the Dounreay nuclear plant, last night confirmed they did not want the dump.

And First Minister Jack McConnell said he believed it was "most likely" the facility would be created in the North west of England, where Sellafield is located.

Environment Secretary David Miliband announced the plan at Westminster.

He said the deep dump would only be built in a "geologically suitable area," where the rock would protect against radiation, and would not be forced on an area against the move.

Scotland's Environment Minister Ross Finnie welcomed the move, saying: "Geological disposal is the approach being adopted in many countries, including Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the US."

The decision follows a report from the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.

The expert panel said burying the waste would also protect against terrorist attacks, adding that it would cost at least pounds 10billion to build.

Construction of the facility would take at least 35 years and another 100 years to fill and seal it.

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WELCOME: Finnie