HC Deb 15 December 1999 vol 341 cc191-2W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports have been received by his Department from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in respect of its investigation into the quality control of plutonium MOX fuel manufactured at Sellafield. [102484]

Mr. Meacher

DETR Ministers have received a number of briefings from HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) on its investigation into the falsification of quality assurance data for fuel manufactured in the MOX demonstration facility at BNFL's Sellafield plant. This investigation has concluded that the automated 100 per cent. check on pellet diameters should provide high confidence that all of the MOX fuel which has been delivered from Sellafield to Japan will be safe in use. A copy of the letter that NII sent to the Japanese Embassy advising them of this conclusion has been placed in the Library of the House.

Central Government grants and redistributed non-domestic rates
£ million
Revenue Community SSA Specific grant Redistributed
support grant1 charge grant reduction grant inside AEF7 non-domestic rates
1990–91 9,468 3,459 10,429
1992–92 9,652 4,805 4,163 12,408
1992–93 316,605 4,363 12,306
1993–94 17,033 4,664 11,559
1994–95 18,479 280 4,930 10,685
1995–96 18,296 261 4,779 11,354
1996–97 18,001 220 4,781 12,736
1997–98 18,650 123 5,068 12,027
1998–99 419,480 102 5,598 12,524
1999–2000 519,875 7119 5,874 13,612
2000–01 619,403 751 6,877 15,400
1Excluding RSG to Specified Bodies
2Specific, Special and Supplementary Grants
3Community Charge Grant was incorporated in Revenue Support Grant in 1992–93
4Provisional outturn
5Budget estimates
6Consultation
7Includes Central Support Reduction Grant

NII is not currently in a position to comment further on its investigations since this could prejudice possible enforcement action.