HC Deb 27 February 1995 vol 255 cc451-2W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to announce the appointment of the new chair for the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee; what consultation he has carried out regarding the appointment; and what criteria were used in selecting the new chair.

Mr. Atkins

An announcement will be made in due course. The chairman of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is appointed by the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales, in consultation with other ministerial colleagues as appropriate, and is chosen on the basis of his or her abilities to fill what is an important and demanding position.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to change the status of(a) the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and (b) the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations;

(2) what plans he has to merge the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations.

Mr. Atkins

There are no current plans to change the status of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, although the effectiveness of all such committees is kept under review. Questions concerning the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations are a matter for the Health and Safety Commission in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Office.

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

Mr. Gummer

Sir John Knill, the current chairman of Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee is due to step down as chairman of RWMAC at the end of May of this year. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I had intended to invite Dr. David Harrison, chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations to be Sir John Knill's successor. However, in recent weeks differences have emerged between the RWMAC and ACSNI members of a joint study group examining the approach to site selection for disposal facilities.

I have recently received their report including the minority views of the two ACSNI members, which I shall be publishing shortly. In the light of these differences, Dr. Harrison has indicated that he feels it would be in the best interests of both committees that they should not at the present time have the same chairman and he has therefore withdrawn his name from consideration for the chairmanship of RWMAC. I have reluctantly acquiesced.

A further announcement will be made in due course about Sir John Knill's successor.