§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the assessment his Department made the BNFL economic case for the Sellafield MOX Plant, on which the departmental letter of endorsement included in the current public consultation documentation is based. [161120]
§ Mr. HainThe Department endorsed on 22 March the second MOX market review prepared by BNFL for DETR. As noted in the consultation document published by DETR and the Department of Health on 28 March, the Department took into account advice from the FCO on the content of that market review, since it related to the major overseas customers who have had plutonium separated from spent fuel at Sellafield. That FCO advice is available from DETR as part of the consultation process.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has received from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission in respect of proposals to use United Kingdom-origin plutonium in United States lead test assemblies for MOX plutonium-based fuels. [161119]
§ Mr. HainThe Department is aware that the official transcript of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 2 February referred to such a proposal, which has also been reported in the specialist media. We understand this option was being considered by the US Administration. The Government have not been formally approached by the US Administration about the matter.