§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on BNFL's progress in becoming year 2000 compliant. [85216]
§ Mr. BattleThe nuclear industry is judged to have Action 2000 "blue" status, meaning that the assessment has not identified any risk of material disruption.
202WThe Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) is the body responsible for regulating the safety of civil nuclear installations. NII has been active in dealing with the year 2000 issue since 1997 and has directed all nuclear licensees, under a licence condition, to provide safety cases a minimum of six weeks in advance of critical dates. NII will allow continued operation of nuclear plant over the critical dates only if it is satisfied that the operation is safe.
NII is also carrying out a programme of inspection and assessment of licensees' work in this area as it proceeds. To date, all the licensees, including BNFL, are making satisfactory progress in their programmes of work and this assists NII's confidence that the safety cases will be adequate. Should they not be, NII will use its enforcement powers to see that effective improvements are made or, the plant taken out of operation.