Nuclear Industry (Hansard, 22 July 2002)

§ Gregory Barker
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) at what intervals reviews are conducted of the level of nuclear industry liability in respect of a nuclear accident; and when the next review is planned to take place; [71477]
(2) what measures are used in setting the nuclear industry's level of liability in respect of a nuclear accident; and what account is taken of inflation. [71476]

§ Mr. Wilson
With regard to liability of the UK nuclear industry in the event of a nuclear accident, the UK is a contracting party to the Paris and Brussels conventions on third party liability in the field of nuclear energy. One of the underlying principles of the Paris convention is that all liability arising from a nuclear accident is channelled to the operator of the nuclear installation on a no fault basis. Present UK legislation requires operators to cover their liability by insurance, (the Nuclear Installations Act 1965) and operator's liability is currently limited to a maximum £140 million per accident.
Liability amounts are reviewed by the UK along with our international partners and were last increased in 1990. The Paris and Brussels conventions are currently in the process of revision with a view to substantially increase the operator's liability to £430 million per accident.
On entry into force, the revised Paris and Brussels conventions will provide for a review of liability amounts every five years.

§ Gregory Barker
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are applied in varying the salary of the BNFL chairman. [71512]
784W

§ Mr. Wilson
The starting fee of £150,000 per annum for the chairman of BNFL was set in October 1999 for a period of three years. The increase, effective from 1 October 2002—equivalent to just over 3 per cent. per annum—was considered to be an appropriate increase in recognition of the service provided by Mr. Collum since he became chairman. This is close to the average level of increase awarded to BNFL staff in each of those three years.

§ Gregory Barker
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals her Department has received regarding the extension between refuelling periods for nuclear reactors. [71546]

§ Mr. Wilson
None.

§ Gregory Barker
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations her Department has received regarding the continued operation of BNFL magnox stations. [71532]

§ Mr. Wilson
BNFL informed the Department of its intention to bring forward the closure dates of the Calder Hall and Chapelcross stations on 22 May 2002.
The Government launched a consultation on energy policy on 14 May with a view to publishing a White Paper around the turn of the year. The role of nuclear is one of the key issues raised in the document. We shall be posting the replies to the consultation on the DTI's website.