§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the timetable is for the creation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. [112896]
§ Mr. WilsonFor planning purposes, the target date for establishing the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on a fully operational basis is April 2005. This assumes that implementing legislation can be bought forward in the next Session of Parliament but this is subject to decisions on the Government's Legislative Programme. Draft legislation will be published shortly for comment.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with(a) DEFRA, (b) the industry and (c) green groups on the storage of nuclear waste. [112897]
§ Mr. WilsonThe Department has regular discussions with DEFRA and the nuclear industry on issues associated with the storage of radioactive waste. Environmental groups have also raised the issue with my officials in the context of discussions on implementation of the proposals set out in the White Paper on Managing the Nuclear Legacy (Cm5552) which was published last July.