§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on how(a) UKAEA and (b) BNFL's liabilities are reflected in reports to Parliament about the national finances. [84758]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information is as follows:
UKAEA
UKAEA is a non-ministerial public body reporting to the Department for Trade and Industry. Its liabilities are recorded in its balance sheet and in its annual report and accounts. This is available in the Library of the House and is accessible at http://www.ukaea.org.uk/about/acc 2002/cover 1.htm. The liabilities that are recorded in its accounts include financial debts and provisions for the future costs of nuclear decommissioning.
The financial debts of UKAEA, owed to the private sector, are included within public sector net debt—the statistic used to monitor the Chancellor's sustainable investment rule and reported to Parliament in the FSBR and PBR. Provisions are not recorded in public sector net debt.
UKAEA's nuclear provisions are included in DTI's resource accounts that are presented to Parliament each year.
BNFL
BNFL is a public corporation. Its liabilities are recorded in its balance sheet in its annual report and accounts. This is available from the House of Commons Library and here http://www.bnfl.com/annualreport2002/pdfs/BN1726 Report.pdf. The liabilities that are recorded in its accounts include financial debts and provisions for the future costs of nuclear decommissioning. The financial debts of BNFL, owed to the private sector, are included within public sector net debt—the statistic used to monitor the Chancellor's sustainable investment rule and reported to Parliament in the FSBR and PBR. Provisions are not recorded in public sector net debt.
BNFL's nuclear provisions are included in the resource accounts of DTI and MOD that are presented to Parliament each year.