§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) who the(a) Chairman and (b) members are of the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management; and when it will start work; [116123]
(2) when the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management will undertake a review of the options for the long-term management of radioactive waste to provide recommendations to Government on the best approach; what organisations and communities they will consult; and what the anticipated date is for the completion of this review; [116121]
(3) what the terms of reference are of the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management: and if she will make a statement. [116120]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 3 June 2003]: The deadline for applications for the Chair and Members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management was 2 May, and appointments will be made by the Secretary of State and her colleagues in the devolved Administrations later this year. We shall make an announcement about the Committee and its work at that stage.
It will be up to the Committee, once they have been appointed, to decide their work programme including their proposals for public and stakeholder engagement. This must be agreed by Ministers. We shall be asking CoRWM to deliver its final recommendations by around the end of 2006.
I have arranged for a copy of the terms of reference, which we published in March, to be placed in the Library. These explain the work for which the Committee will be responsible.