§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his reply on the Sellafield MOX plant, 18 January 2001,Official Report, column 296W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised economic case for the MOX plant prepared by BNFL. [148659]
§ Mr. MeacherMy Department and the Department of Health have today published a consultation paper inviting public comments on BNFL's proposals for operating the Sellafield MOX plant. This includes a copy of BNFL's latest evaluation of the economic case for the plant.
The DETR and MAFF invited public comments on the company's plans in 1999 and the further consideration of the case needed to take into account the consequences of the data falsification incident at BNFL's MOX demonstration facility. BNFL have now submitted a revised economic case and it is right to give people a further opportunity to comment.
Independent consultants are also being appointed as a parallel procedure to evaluate the economic case put forward by BNFL. The consultation will last eight weeks and consultants will report in around 10 weeks. The consultees will not therefore see the consultants' report but the consultants will take account of the responses to the consultation exercise in reporting back to the Departments.
630Wthe Department in the London Borough of Wandsworth since 1 May 1997.
When the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Health have considered all relevant information, including the consultant's report and the responses today's consultation, they NA ill then decide whether the MOX manufacture, which it is proposed should be carried out at the Sellafield MOX plant, is justified.
The DETR and DoH are inviting comments until 23 May, and hope that people will take advantage of the opportunity to comment on this important proposal.