HC Deb 18 December 1990 vol 183 cc134-6W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements currently exist for the disposal of nuclear waste from the atomic weapons establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Nuclear waste is disposed of from the atomic weapons establishment taking advantage of nationally available disposal routes under arrangements which are overseen by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution of the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended that the company running the atomic weapons establishment after contractorisation will be able to alter the redundancy arrangements of the staff of the atomic weapons establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The redundancy arrangements will form part of the conditions of service of staff. Any changes to the conditions of service will be a matter for negotiation between the contractor and the trade unions.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make it his policy to release information on the number of staff in the safety division stationed at(a) the atomic weapons establishment, Cardiff, (b) the atomic weapons establishment, Burghfield, and (c) the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston, following the evidence given to the Select Committee on Defence, printed on page 81 of its ninth report, Session 1989–90, HC 237.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

No. It would not be in the national interest to do so.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are envisaged for the disposal of nuclear waste from the atomic weapons establishment after its contractorisation.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The arrangements for the disposal of nuclear waste from the atomic weapons establishment will continue to be overseen by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution of the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences there will be in the index-linking arrangements between the new atomic weapons establishment pension scheme that is due to be arranged as a result of the contractorisation of the atomic weapons establishment and the existing principal civil service pension scheme and the UKAEA pension scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

It is intended that the benefit terms of the new AWE pension scheme include provision for pensions to be increased in line with PCSPS or principal non-industrial superannuation scheme increases.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements currently exist for redundancy payments under the principal civil service pension scheme and the UKAEA scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The current arrangements for making redundancy payments to AWE staff are set out in section 10 of the PCSPS and section 8 of the UK AEA PNISS. Broadly, these provide for benefits according to age, length of qualifying service and rate of pay at the time of redundancy. In the unlikely event that the redundancy benefits of PCSPS and the UKAEA PNISS amount to less than the statutory provision, staff may receive a special payment to bring them up to the level paid under the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are planned for redundancy payments under the new AWE pension scheme that is due to be arranged as a result of the contractorisation of the atomic weapons establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The new redundancy scheme will provide redundancy payments which, when taken together with those of the new pension scheme, will be at least as good as those currently provided under the PCSPS and UKAEA PNISS arrangements. However, in view of AWE's continuing need for staff, and the Government's firm commitment to the nuclear programme, redundancies are unlikely.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the proposed relationship between the compliance directorate and the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment under phase 2 of the contractorisation programme.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The MOD compliance directorate based at AWE will be independent of the establishment's division. It will be staffed by Crown servants and, to carry out their role of contract oversight and compliance, there will need to be a close and co-operative relationship between them and the contractor's safety division.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to ensure that the company currently producing proposals for the full contractorisation of the atomic weapons establishment will not derive an unfair advantage in competing for the contract in 1992.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The interim-management contractor is not responsible for formulating proposals for full contractorisation of AWE. This task is the responsibility of the MOD and the usual steps will be taken to ensure full and fair competition for the eventual operating contract.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be the employer of members of staff in the safety division of the atomic weapons establishment under the proposed contractorisation.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The staff of the safety division will become part of the contractor's organisation on full contractorisation.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is envisaged that the company that wins the contract to operate the atomic weapons establishment will have the power to alter the pension arrangements for the staff of the atomic weapons establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The new AWE pension scheme will be set up under trust deed which will include the rules of the scheme. The scheme will be managed by a trustee company specially set up for this purpose. The board of this trustee company will include persons nominated by the employing company, the Ministry of Defence and the members, or their representatives. In this way, members will have a say in the operation of the scheme. Any changes in the terms of the scheme will be negotiated between the employing company-commercial manager and the trade unions. MOD approval will be required before any changes in benefits or contributions can be implemented.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the company selected to operate the atomic weapons establishment after contractorisation will be allowed to alter the number and grades of staff in the safety division of the establishment.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

The contractor will be bound by strict safety requirements which will include the maintenance of a fully effective internal safety organisation. The compliance directorate will ensure that safety requirements are met effectively and efficiently. Any detailed changes the contractor may wish to make would have to be compatible with this requirement.