§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations his Department has recently had to improve emergency planning procedures to deal with a civil nuclear reactor accident.
§ Mr. BaldryThe Department regularlyconsults organisations concerned with all aspects of civil nuclear emergency planning. This is done under the auspices of the nuclear emergency planning liaison group, which brings together representatives of Government Departments, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) the National Radiological Protection Board, nuclear operators, the police, local authorities and the fire service. My Department is also a member of the nuclear emergency arrangements forum where matters of common interest are discussed between the nuclear operators, the NII and Government Departments. In addition, the Department participates in ad-hoc meetings with various organisations from time to time to consider particular aspects of planning.