HC Deb 21 November 1985 vol 87 cc277-8W
Mr. Phillip Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether steps have been taken to register the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive as a company.

Mr. Goodlad

In the 1982 White Paper on radioactive waste management (Cmnd. 8607) the Government announced their agreement that the component parts of the nuclear industry should, in co-operation, set up a Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive in order to provide a mechanism by which it could fulfil its responsibilities for nuclear waste disposal. NIREX has been functioning as an administrative entity for some time, and its current annual report is in the Library of the House.

My right hon. Friend has today agreed to the incorporation of NIREX as a company. The shares will be held by the Central Electricity Generating Board, British Nuclear Fuels Limited, the Atomic Energy Authority and the South of Scotland Electricity Board. Given the long-term nature of the company's business, and the Government's interest in continuity, my right hon. Friend is a holder of a special share. Taking account of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's recommendation that there should be independent directors on the NIREX board, the special share confers the right to appoint two independent directors. These appointments,

collected centrally does not distinguish the age of the victim. Information on those offences marked with an asterisk is published annually in "Criminal Statistics England And Wales, Supplementary Tables, Volume 4" (tables S4.1(A) and S4.1(B) for 1984) which also includes information on cautions for these offences, (tables S4.1(C) and S4.1(D)).

which my right hon. Friend will make in consultation with the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales, will be announced in due course.

The nuclear industry has committed itself wholeheartedly to the success of NIREX and this commitment is reflected in a formal shareholders agreement.

I am today making available in the Library of the House the shareholders agreement and attached documentation of the new company.

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