§ Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her statement of 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 992W, on the UK Atomic Energy Authority, when the White Paper on arrangements for managing public sector civil nuclear liabilities will be published. [67725]
§ Mr. WilsonThe White Paper "Managing the Nuclear Legacy—A Strategy for Action" is being published today. Copies are available in the Library and the Vote Office.
The White Paper sets out plans for radical changes to current arrangements for the clean up of the public sector civil nuclear legacy including the creation of a new body—the Liabilities Management Authority—responsible to Government and with a specific remit to ensure that clean up is carried out safely, securely, cost effectively and in ways which protect the environment for the benefit of current and future generations. It makes clear the Government's determination to drive clean up forward systematically and progressively using the best available skills to get the job done and, through competition, to promote the development of the supply chain and skills base required to sustain the clean up programme over the long term. It also underlines our commitment to ensuring that management arrangements are open, transparent and command public confidence. Implementing legislation will be brought forward at the first available opportunity.
In the interim, a Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) has been established in the DTI to drive forward the clean up work and to prepare the ground for the LMA. Membership of the LMU is drawn from the private and public sectors. The appointment of Bechtel as partner contractor adds international experience to the LMU, reflecting the Government's intention to ensure that the best skills are brought to bear on legacy clean up.
In line with the commitment to openness and transparency, the Government have consulted widely with stakeholders in the preparation of the White Paper and would welcome views on the proposed new arrangements and the way in which they should be implemented. Views should be submitted to the Department by 18 October. Contact details are provided in the White Paper.