HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 cc347-8W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provision has been made for the evacuation of Mersea Island in the event of an emergency at Bradwell Power Station; and what estimate has been made about how long this would take. [64959]

Mr. Wilson

As with all UK civil nuclear sites, well developed and regularly tested arrangements for responding to an emergency at Bradwell Power Station are in place as part of the licensing requirements imposed by HSE's nuclear installations inspectorate. Detailed emergency plans are prepared for an area within the 2.4 km detailed emergency planning zone for Bradwell. Mersea Island is outside the detailed emergency planning zone for Bradwell; the boundary of this zone is defined in relation to the most significant release of radiation from an accident which can be seen through reasonably foreseeable scenarios and is derived from the safety case established for the site. Beyond this, plans must be capable of being extended to deal with larger, less likely events. This principle of extendibility is an important part of civil nuclear emergency response arrangements. Use is made of the general plans prepared by the police, local authority and other agencies for a wide range of events. These do not provide for the detailed estimation of evacuation times which would need to take into account the circumstances at the time: ie time of day, prevailing weather conditions and the state of the tide.

Bradwell Power Station ceased generating electricity on 31 March 2002 and will be decommissioned over the next few years. This process will reduce the radiological hazard.

Ms Shipley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the closure of nuclear power stations; and if they will pay for the disposal of nuclear waste from nuclear power stations. [66097]

Mr. Wilson

The operation of a nuclear power station is a matter for the relevant operator, subject to meeting the necessary regulatory requirements. The Government have already announced that, through the proposed Liabilities Management Authority, it will take on direct financial responsibility for the decommissioning and clean-up of BNFL's Magnox stations. Financial responsibility for the decommissioning of private sector nuclear power stations and the management of spent fuel and all associated wastes and materials is a matter for the operator concerned.

Ms Shipley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, when the liabilities of a nuclear power station exceed its assets, the Government will allow it to continue in business. [66102]

Mr. Wilson

If the liabilities of any company exceed its assets, it is a matter for the directors of that company to decide whether the company should continue trading. In addition, in the case of a nuclear power company operating on sites licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate would continue to monitor closely the company's activities to ensure it continued to maintain its safety performance.

Ms Shipley

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding building new nuclear power stations. [66105]

Mr. Wilson

In common with all generation options, the initiative for bringing forward proposals to construct new plant lies with the market and the generating companies. British Energy and BNFL have said they have no current plans for such proposals.