Radioactive Waste Management - Public Attitudes Survey for Scotland

Appendix A: Survey Questionnaire

Introduction

The Scottish Government is seeking views on radioactive waste management in Scotland.

This survey will ask a few short questions about your knowledge and opinions on radioactive waste management. It should take about 10 minutes. These questions apply only to waste from Scottish sites, including Scotland's historic nuclear power stations.

[Ask all]

Q1. How well informed do you think you are about radioactive waste management in Scotland?

• Very well informed,
• Fairly well informed,
• Not very well informed,
• Not at all informed,
• Don't know

[Ask all]

Q2. For each of the following statements, please select whether you think it is true or false.

[Randomise order]

• Radioactive waste is a byproduct of nuclear power generation,
• There are several categories of radioactive waste, for example low, intermediate and high level radioactive waste,
• Some hospitals produce radioactive waste,
• Some scientific research centres produce radioactive waste,
• Some other non-nuclear industries in Scotland produce radioactive waste,
• Radioactive waste management is a devolved matter (i.e. The Scottish Parliament has power to make laws on radioactive waste management)

Scale: True, False, Don't know

[Ask all]

Q3. And for each of the following statements please select whether you think it is true or false about the way radioactive waste in Scotland is currently managed

[Randomise order]

• Some radioactive waste is reused or recycled,
• Some radioactive waste is put into solid form and packed into steel drums,
• Some radioactive waste is disposed of in deep underground sites,
• Some radioactive waste is disposed of in licensed landfill sites,
• Some radioactive waste is stored for decades before disposal,
• Some radioactive waste is dumped at sea.

Scale: True, False, Don't know

[Ask all]

Q4. Have you ever attempted to find information about the way radioactive waste is managed in Scotland?

• Yes
• No

[Ask all]

Q5. To what extent do you trust each of the below to give you information about the way radioactive waste is managed in Scotland? Where 10 is trust completely and 0 is do not trust at all.

[Randomise order]

• The Scottish Government,
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned about the environment,
• Scientists/academia,
• The media,
• Search engine/internet
• The nuclear industry,
• Regulators of the nuclear industry,
• International organisations working on peaceful uses of nuclear technology,
• Friends and family members,

Scale: 0-10, Don't know.

[Ask all]

Q6. Do you want to know more about radioactive waste management in Scotland?

• Yes
• No

[Ask all]

Q7. If you wanted to find information about the way radioactive waste is managed in Scotland, which of the following sources would you use?

[Randomise order]

• The Scottish Government,
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned about the environment,
• Scientists/academia,
• The media,
• Search engine/internet,
• The nuclear industry,
• Regulators of the nuclear industry,
• International organisations working on peaceful uses of nuclear technology,
• Friends and family members,
• Other (please specify)
• Don't know

[Ask all]

Q8. On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being extremely important and 0 being not important at all, how important do you believe each of these should be when thinking about managing radioactive waste in Scotland?

[Randomise order]

• Protection of human health,
• Protection of environment,
• Cost to tax payers,
• Investing in the development of new technologies
• Growing Scotland's economy
• Minimising the burden placed on future generations, which may mean reducing options available to them
• Maximising the ability of future generations to exercise choice, which may mean increasing the burden passed to them
• Disposing of radioactive waste as quickly as is reasonably practicable
• Security of radioactive waste management facilities

Scale: 0-10, Don't know.

[Ask all]

Q9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

[Randomise order]

• The disposal of radioactive waste can be done in a safe manner,
• The disposal of radioactive waste can be done in a cost-effective manner,
• I am confident that radioactive waste is managed in the best way in Scotland,
• Current technologies can manage radioactive waste safely,
• Enough research is being done on safer methods of radioactive waste management,
• Enough research is being done on more efficient methods of radioactive waste management,
• The nuclear industry is open in providing information about radioactive waste,
• Public education is important in the management of radioactive waste,

Scale: Strongly agree, tend to agree, neither agree nor disagree, tend to disagree, strongly disagree, don't know

[Ask all]

Q10. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

[Randomise order]

• It is vital for Scotland to have a robust strategy for radioactive waste management
• I am concerned about the impact of radioactive waste management on the environment,
• Radioactive waste management positively impacts Scotland's environment and economy
• I am concerned about the impact of radioactive waste management on my health,
• I am concerned about the impact of radioactive waste management on future generations,

Scale: Strongly agree, tend to agree, neither agree nor disagree, tend to disagree, strongly disagree, don't know

[Ask all]

Q11. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following:

• The Scottish Government should do more to inform the public about radioactive waste management
• The Scottish Nuclear Industry should do more to inform the public about radioactive waste management
• Regulators of the Scottish Nuclear Industry should do more to inform the public about radioactive waste management
• The media should do more to inform the public about radioactive waste management

Scale: Strongly agree, tend to agree, neither agree nor disagree, tend to disagree, strongly disagree, don't know

[Ask all]

Q12. How much influence, if any, do you feel you have over decision making about radioactive waste disposal in:

• Your local area,
• Scotland as a whole.

Scale: A lot of influence, Significant Influence, Moderate Influence, Limited Influence No Influence

[Ask if Q14 = Limited or no influence]

Q13. You said that you feel you have limited or no influence over decision making. Why do you feel this? Please select all that apply.

[Randomise order]

• Nobody listens to what I have to say,
• Decisions are made without talking to people,
• My opinion isn't important,
• I'm not given the opportunity to have an influence,
• I'm not interested in influencing decision making,
• I don't have time to influence decision-making,
• I don't know how to influence decision making,
• None of these,
• Don't know

[Ask all]

Q14. Which of the following comes closest to your view:

• I am interested in radioactive waste management and want to be involved in decision making in Scotland,
• I am interested in radioactive waste management but I do not want to be involved in decision making,
• I am not interested in radioactive waste management but want to be involved in decision making
• I am not interested in radioactive waste management and do not want to be involved in decision making

[Ask all]

Q15. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view when thinking of the risks and benefits in relation to radioactive waste management?

• The benefits of managing radioactive waste are significantly greater than the risks of managing radioactive waste.
• The benefits of managing radioactive waste are somewhat greater than the risks of managing radioactive waste.
• The benefits and risks of managing radioactive waste are equal.
• The risks of managing radioactive waste are somewhat greater than the benefits of managing radioactive waste.
• The risks of managing radioactive waste are significantly greater than the benefits of managing radioactive waste.
• Don't know

[Ask all]

Q16. Please tell us why you feel this way.

Open-text question.

[Ask all]

Q17. Which, if any, of the following benefits do you think new facilities for managing radioactive waste would bring to Scotland? Please select all that apply.

[Randomise order]

• Creation of new jobs in the local area
• Protection of the environment
• Dealing with Scotland's existing radioactive waste
• It would benefit Scotland's economy
• Safe containment of radioactive waste
• More research and innovation in the field of waste management
• I see no benefits
• Other (please specify)

[Ask all]

Q18. Which, if any, of the following concerns do you have about new facilities for managing radioactive waste in Scotland? Please select all that apply

[Randomise order]

• The transporting of waste to the facility through local areas
• The potential for radioactive leaks during the facility's operation
• The risk of a terrorist attack on the facility
• Possible environmental effects
• Possible health impacts
• Reduction in local property values
• I have no concerns
• Other (please specify)

[Ask all]

Q19. How supportive are you of the construction of facilities for managing radioactive waste in your local area?

• Strongly supportive
• Somewhat supportive
• Neutral
• Somewhat opposed
• Strongly opposed
• Don't know

[Ask all]

Q20. Thinking about the hypothetical construction of a disposal site for radioactive waste in Scotland, which of the following do you think should be involved in the decision-making process?

[Select all that apply]

• Residents of local communities
• Local Government
• Local non-governmental organisations
• Scottish Government
• Responsible authorities
• Independent experts

[Ask all]

Q21. Reflecting on radioactive waste management in Scotland overall, do you have any further comments you would like to make in response to this survey?

Open text