Nuclear Fuel (Reprocessing)

HC Deb 03 April 1996 vol 275 cc308-9W

Mr. Purchase

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the(a) direct and (b) incidental costs of processing spent fuel from advanced gas-cooled reactors. [24707]

Mr. Page

The terms for the reprocessing of spent advanced gas-cooled reactor—fuel are a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.—Nuclear Electric Ltd. and Scottish Nuclear, the companies with which BNFL has contracted to do this work. The accounts for Nuclear Electric plc and Scottish Nuclear for 1994–95, the latest available year, show the amounts provided for this work.

Mr. Purchase

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the full financial liability for processing all spent advanced gas-cooled reactor fuels will fall on the owners of the advanced gas-cooled reactor stations following privatisation. [24706]

Mr. Eggar

As I have stated on numerous occasions, we have established the basic principle that assets will be followed by the associated liabilities. I can confirm that full financial liability for spent reactor fuel will fall on the owners of the reactors following privatisation.