§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to ensure that all nuclear installations worldwide are fully millennium-compliant; and what contingency plans are in place in the event of multiple nuclear emergencies overseas. [64453]
§ Mr. BattleResponsibility for ensuring safety at nuclear installations, and for dealing with any emergencies which might arise at those installations, rests with the state in which the installation is situated. At the international level, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna and the Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris are acting as co-ordinators of millennium information for the nuclear sector worldwide, and have already held sessions on millennium preparedness, with further major workshops planned. Other nuclear organisations are contributing as appropriate.
In multilateral and bilateral contacts with overseas nuclear safety regulatory authorities, the United Kingdom's Health and Safety Executive—which for some years has been overseeing the preparations of the UK's nuclear installations for the millennium—has been encouraging other states to take appropriate action to address this issue. Mr. Laurence Williams, the UK's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, presented a well received paper on millennium preparedness to the IAEA Senior Regulator's meeting in Vienna in September 1998. A copy of that paper will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
Both the IAEA and European Union have established and tested international systems for the early notification of any overseas nuclear accident. The UK also has bilateral arrangements for the early notification of such accidents with a number of overseas governments. The Government's National Response Plan, co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the 699W Regions, makes arrangements for the UK's response in dealing with any consequences of an overseas nuclear accident. The Plan draws on the RIMNET national radiation monitoring and nuclear emergency response system, which also provides the UK with a second independent line of defence, should for any reason the early notification systems fail. RIMNET also links into the Meteorological Office's predictions of the areas of the UK likely to be affected by any overseas accident.
§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that all UK nuclear installations are fully millennium-compliant; and what contingency plans are in place in the event of a millennium-related nuclear emergency. [64452]
§ Mr. BattleAll UK nuclear operators have initiated major programmes of work to identify and address potential problems associated with the century date change issue. Those aspects of these programmes that address potential safety concerns are being monitored closely by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE is satisfied with the actions being taken. If the HSE were not satisfied it would take robust enforcement action if it were appropriate, but if the licencees continue to make good progress in tackling the issue, the HSE anticipate this will not be necessary.
Operators anticipate that all essential work will be completed by mid-1999. This includes a re-testing of systems to provide confirmation that remedial action taken to rectify any safety problems that are identified has been effective. Contingency plans and business continuity plans will also be in place for the critical dates as a precaution against unforeseen threats to safety. Contingency plans against the possibility of a nuclear emergency are maintained and available for activation at any time.