§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual cost to his Department or public bodies responsible to his Department, since May 1979, of the oversight and implementation of environmental safety at(a) Dounreay nuclear power establishment, (b) Hunterston nuclear plant, (c) Torness nuclear plant and (d) Chapelcross nuclear materials production plant. [39671]
§ Mr. Macdonald[holding answer 30 April 1998]: Such information as is readily available is shown in the tables. The first table comprises information relating to charges raised in connection with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's inspection and monitoring duties at nuclear sites. The site operators are liable for payment of these charges, which are intended to cover the cost to the Agency of undertaking such duties. The second table shows the costs incurred by the Health and Safety Executive in connection with regulation safety at nuclear sites. Nuclear operators pay the HSE charges, which are broadly designed to meet these costs.