Sellafield: Thorp and Mox Plants (Hansard, 20 March 2000)

§ The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)
My Lords, the Government's policy on reprocessing and on the export of Mox remains unchanged. The Health and 6 Safety Executive's report published on 18th February identified serious failures in BNFL's management of safety at Sellafield. Nevertheless, HSE confirms that the site is currently operating safely. BNFL needs to take action urgently to restore confidence and a good start has been made with the appointment of Norman Askew as the new Chief Executive.

§ Lord Razzall
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Is now the time for a complete re-think of our nuclear waste strategy? Does the noble Lord agree that the Thorp plant at Sellafield, which reprocesses nuclear waste primarily for Japan and Germany, has proved to be a massive white elephant? Does he also agree that if the Government give full approval for the mixed oxide fuel plant at Sellafield, this will compound the previous government's error over Thorp?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, this is not the time for a complete reappraisal. We have a serious failure of management, not a failure in the policy or design of the processing plants. Far from being white elephants, they have huge contracts stretching into the future which are of enormous value.

§ Lord Northbrook
My Lords, does not the Minister believe that the best way to solve BNFL's management problems is to privatise it and that the Government should not be put off from doing so by the problems with Germany and Japan?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, no. Clearly, this is a setback for the company and has implications for its performance and readiness for the introduction of a PPP. We shall continue to work on that, but it is dependent on proper safety and regulations.

§ Lord Jenkin of Roding
My Lords, can the Minister give the up-to-date position on the Japanese contracts?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, discussions are taking place with the Japanese about the fuel at Takahama and all the options are being examined as regards progress.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the falsification of documents, particularly in a dangerous nuclear plant, is very serious and that the people who perpetrated such action ought to be prosecuted? Are they going to be prosecuted?
Secondly, is the Minister aware that for a long time fears have been raised about the plant not only members of this Government, but by members of the Irish Government, too?
Thirdly, will the Minister confirm that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has always had a permanent presence at Sellafield? Why was it unable to pick up the bad running which, in the light of what has happened, was always evident?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, I hope I made it clear at the beginning that we believe there to have 7 been serious management failures. That is why we have a new chief executive and why five members of the staff have been dismissed. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate picked up the failures and reported on them and steps have been taken to correct them.

§ Lord Elton
My Lords, before the Minister can answer some of these questions, is it not necessary to know for what purpose the security procedures were falsified, how it was possible to do that and what steps will be taken to ensure that it never happens again? When shall we be told that?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, it is clear from the reports that the records were falsified simply because the workers in the area did not want to do the work; it was easier to produce false documentation. That is why the breach of management procedures was outrageous and why serious action has rightly been taken.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, is this not another reason why the Government should return to their emphasis on the coal industry? Is my noble friend aware that this country has millions of tonnes of unmined coal and that we are producing it more cheaply than any other country? Is that not another good reason?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, we are talking about a reprocessing plant rather than about the nuclear power stations. Again, I reiterate that we should not confuse a failure of management with the need to revise our energy policy.

§ Lord Jenkins of Putney
My Lords, do not the events show that reprocessing breeds a climate of deception and is likely to do so in future? Therefore, should we not abandon the whole proposition of reprocessing?

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville
My Lords, there is nothing to suggest that there was any disaffection in relation to the matter. As I said, it was a failure of both management and workers and it can happen in other plants and factories—and it does from time to time. It is important to correct the situation and regain the confidence of the public and the customers as soon as possible.