§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2004,Official Report, column 1675W, on British Nuclear Fuels, what discussions officials have had with BNFL about the fixed price contract for nuclear clean-up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; [161973]
(2) if she will make a statement on the use of fixed price contracts for the clean-up of radioactively contaminated sites by BNFL. [161974]
324W
§ Mr. TimmsBNFL Inc. entered into certain fixed price clean-up contracts with US DoE at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant (A MWTP) in Idaho and the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) in Oak Ridge a number of years ago. Some losses on those contracts have been reported in BNFL's annual report. BNFL Inc's focus is now on contracts which pose minimal risk, and it already has a number of these contracts in place and they are making a useful contribution to the group.
BNFL is taking steps to limit any further losses under the two historic legacy contracts and, in liaison with officials, is actively pursuing claims for compensation under the terms of those contracts. I have also discussed this issue with US Energy Secretary, Spencer Abraham.