§ Mr. LaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to conduct the quinquennial review of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. [120230]
§ Mrs. LiddellIn line with the Government's policy of reviewing Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies at regular intervals, my Department intends to conduct the quinquennial review of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) during the course of this year with the aim of completing it by the end of March 2001. This is five years after the UKAEA assumed its current form following the separation of AEA Technology. The review will be forward-looking, open to external input and take full account of the views of all stakeholders.
The quinquennial review will be conducted in two stages. The first will look at options for the future delivery of functions provided by the UKAEA. The second will consider future performance requirements for delivery of those functions. In both cases the focus will be on corporate organisational and strategic issues, not on specific site-related operational matters. A copy of the terms of reference for the review has been placed in the Library of the House.
The review will be carried out by my officials with advice from a Steering Board chaired by the Director General of Energy in my Department. The Board will include representatives of UKAEA, other Government Departments and external, independent members with relevant knowledge and expertise. UKAEA customers, staff, trade unions and all other interested parties will have the opportunity to contribute to the review. I very much hope they will do so.
Further information on the review, including how to contribute, can be obtained from the UKAEA Quinquennial Review Team, Department of Trade and Industry, Room 107, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET or from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk. Comments on the review and requests for further information can also be sent to ukaeareview.comment@dti.gov.uk.
The review will be carried out as openly as possible and the results of each stage made public. Contributors to the review should make clear whether they have any objections to publication of their comments, including publication on the DTI website.