§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the basis is for the value of British Energy's spent fuel stockpile under paragraph 10.2, page 27 of the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, British Energy Generation (UK) Limited, British Energy Generation Ltd, Newco 1 and Newco2, dated 1 October 2003. [147622]
§ Mr. TimmsBritish Energy's spent fuel represents a significant liability, provisions for which are set out in the Company's published accounts. Under the terms agreed for the restructuring of British Energy, the Government will take financial responsibility for the company's historic spent fuel liabilities, but British Energy will retain title to the fuel. In order to give the Government maximum flexibility in dealing with this fuel, for which it will be financially responsible, the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement contains the option for the Government or another body nominated by the Government to take title to the fuel from British Energy for the nominal sum of £1.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications for security of nuclear materials at Sellafield of the report released on 18 December 2003 of nuclear material unaccounted for at UKAEA, BNFL and URENCO nuclear sites. [147624]
§ Mr. TimmsThere are no security implications associated with the published "materials unaccounted for" (MUF) figures. The MUF values for any accountancy period need to be read in the context of the processing of materials that occurred over that period, and the published figures relating to Sellafield are within acceptable limits. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.