§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which canals were used by the PNTL transport ships used in transporting MOX fuel to Japan. [140598]
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on impediments faced by the PNTL vessels travelling through(a) the Panama Canal and (b) the Suez Canal. [140599]
§ Mr. ByersPNTL ships enjoy the same rights to freedom of navigation as any other commercial vessel.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the divisions of responsibility were between the UKAEA constables on board PNTL ships and the masters of those ships in respect of the return to Japan of nuclear materials from Sellafield. [140600]
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§ Mr. ByersThe masters of PNTL ships undertaking shipments of nuclear materials between Europe and Japan retain full responsibility for the safe operation of the ships at all times, including when the ships are transporting MOX. The role of the UKAEA Constabulary (UKAEAC) is to protect the cargo against theft or sabotage.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what arrangements he plans to make for future shipments of MOX fuel between Europe and Japan; [140597]
(2) what assessment he has made of the compliance of the shipments of MOX fuel from Sellafield to Japan with US requirements concerning safety and physical protection; and if the vessels concerned were classed as engaged in commercial cargo operations. [140601]
§ Mr. ByersThe United States Government have confirmed, after careful scrutiny by all the relevant agencies, that the arrangements that were put in place for the shipment of MOX from Europe to Japan fully satisfy the physical protection provisions of Annexe 5 of the 1988 US-Japan Nuclear Co-operation Agreement.
PNTL vessels involved in MOX shipments are civilian vessels engaged in commercial cargo operations.
§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) total costs to date and (b) projected future costs to public funds are of decommissioning nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [140474]
§ Mr. ByersThe total costs to date of reactor decommissioning by BNFL have been approximately £0.4 billion. The projected future spend by BNFL on decommissioning their nuclear power stations (based on undiscounted March 2000 money values) is £8 billion.
The cost of liabilities relating to British Energy's stations will be met by the company, with decommissioning liabilities being covered by a segregated fund operated by trustees.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial liability will be passed on by BNFL to a successor authority; and how this liability will be funded. [140387]
§ Mr. ByersNo decisions have been taken yet on the future handling of BNFL's liabilities in the context of a PPP.