§ Ms Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the present (i) land owning and (ii) leasing arrangements between his Department, AWE and Hunting and Brae in respect of the former AWE site at Llanishen, Cardiff; what proposals he has to(a) decontaminate and (b) redevelop the site; and what consultation he will undertake with the local authority, other agencies and local residents on these proposals. [5499]
§ Mr. Spellarholding answer 26 June 1997]: The land which forms the AWE sites is owned by the MOD. There are no land owning or leasing arrangements between MOD, AWE plc. and the present operating contractor Hunting-BRAE. The operating contractor's use of the sites is licensed under the term contract between MOD and the company.
The Cardiff site closed on 28 February 1997, and the process to decommission the facilities has started. There will also be a complementary site decontamination process. All work will be undertaken in a careful and progressive manner, in conformity with all relevant guidelines and legislation and the requirements of the regulatory bodies. The MOD has consulted the local authorities as necessary. The local liaison committee was also kept fully informed of the MOD's plans to close the site. The whole process will take a number of years, following which we intend to dispose of the site.