§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the need for stronger civil defence precautions in Northern Ireland to safeguard against the effects of a terrorist attack on the new MOX nuclear reprocessing plant in Sellafield. [35340]
§ Dr. John ReidSince the attacks of 11 September on the United States, the British Government have been reviewing their contingency planning arrangements. Much work has been done, and continues to be done, to strengthen our national resilience. This includes an examination of all key sites, of which Sellafield is one.
This work deals both with the counter-terrorism aspect, improving intelligence against the enemy we face and strengthening our defences, and the civil contingencies aspect, ensuring that the necessary resources are in place to minimise the consequences of a successful attack.
It is not possible, for security reasons, to divulge the details of the measures being put in place. However, the Government will do whatever is necessary, at Sellafield and throughout the UK, to maximise our resilience to any threat.