§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he has taken and plans to take as part of the energy review to assess accurately Nuclear Electric's economic case for extending the life of the seven Magnox stations; which outside consultants are being used by his Department for this purpose; how many civil service personnel-hours will be required to assess Nuclear Electric's submission to his Department's inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe coal review is considering the implications of the statutory obligation on electricity suppliers to purchase non-fossil power, including that from nuclear sources. Ernst and Young has been appointed to assist the coal review team in
- (i) the assessment and analysis of information provided by Nuclear Electric plc and verified by Nuclear Electric's auditors, BDO Binder Hamlyn, on the costs of the company's Magnox stations with particular emphasis on the avoidable costs of premature closure, and on the cash flow and accounting implications;
- (ii) the examination of information provided by Nuclear Electric, to the DTI and the Select Committee in respect of its actual and projected receipts of the fossil fuel levy.
The coal review team will be considering carefully the evidence provided by Nuclear Electric and the results of this work.