BNFL (Hansard, 21 July 1999)

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the members of the Liabilities Management Unit of BNFL. [92055]

§ Mr. Battle
The Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) at BNFL consists of 34 BNFL staff and 1 agency worker based at the Sellafield and Berkeley sites. The Head of the LMU is Robin Sellers, based at Sellafield.

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his reasons for announcing his proposals for BNFL through a written answer rather than an oral statement. [92058]

§ Mr. Battle
As the hon. Member is aware, it is a matter of judgment whether to make an announcement through a written answer or oral statement.

§ Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the new index against which BNFL's safety, health and environmental performance will be measured. [92054]

§ Mr. Battle
BNFL and the Government regard safety, health and the environment as being of paramount importance. That is why the targets set for BNFL look to the company to achieve continuous and measurable improvement against the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Index. The Index is based on similar indices used in the United States, including the US Department of Energy, and will measure the company's performance against standards achieved in conventional, radiological and environmental safety, and health. The Index is being developed by BNFL in close discussion with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agencies.