HL Deb 19 July 1988 vol 499 cc1294-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is responsible in law for compensation, whether liability is in any way limited, and what the insurance arrangements are in relation to the transport of plutonium for reprocessing to and from British reprocessing plants.

Viscount Davidson

Any claims for compensation arising from shipments of plutonium after reprocessing would be the responsibility of the operator of the reprocessing plant. Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) the operator is required to make provision by insurance or some other means for the satisfaction of claims for compensation up to a total of £20 million in respect of any one occurrence. Should compensation claims exceed that level, public funds will be available to satisfy claims to a total of approximately £230 million, and beyond that claims will be satisfied to such extent and out of funds provided by such means as Parliament may determine.