HC Deb 11 February 2004 vol 417 c1472W
Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the US Department of Energy regarding the BNFL contract to build a nuclear processing plant in Idaho; and if she will make a statement. [142132]

Mr. Timms

BNFL's subsidiary BNFL Inc. has a contract with US DoE to manage waste at a facility in Idaho—the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant. My officials have liaised with USDoE and the company on the settlement of claims for compensation under the terms of the contract. These discussions are a commercial matter.

Mr. Tynan

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her Written Statement of 11 December 2003,Official Report, columns 93–95WS, on BNFL strategy review, if she will make a statement on the future of BNFL's US subsidiaries. [R][148979]

Mr. Timms

As set out in my announcement, the priority for BNFL going forward is to focus on UK clean up. Against this background, the objective relating to the US activities is to manage the businesses to deliver value and in a way that limits and controls risk to the UK taxpayer. In relation to the Westinghouse business, the Government have agreed with the BNFL Board that steps will be taken to enable the business to operate with greater financial independence from its parent, so that possibilities for private sector participation are opened up.