§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Department of Environment in Northern Ireland was not consulted prior to the decision to commission the mixed oxide plant at Sellafield; and if she will make a statement. [24262]
§ Margaret BeckettMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I decided on 3 October 2001 that mixed oxide (MOX) manufacture is "justified" under the basic safety standards directive. We alone were responsible for taking the decision and others could only offer advice. We and the Environment Agency conducted five public consultation exercises before we made the decision.
The Health and Safety Executive gave its consent on 19 December 2001 to the plutonium commissioning of the Sellafield MOX Plant. Its consent was required under the terms of British Nuclear Fuels' nuclear site licence, before the plant could operate.
Health and Safety issues were fully considered in the decision published on 3 October, and the Executive was under no obligation to consult before reaching its own decision.