§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons for the difficulties encountered by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security in security clearing United States nationals brought over by British Nuclear Fuels; and what steps have been taken to ameliorate the problem. [184404]
§ Mr. TimmsThere is no central agency in the United States to which the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) can turn to establish if an individual has security clearance. British Nuclear Fuels are aware that the devolved administrative arrangements in the US can make the verification process difficult and time-consuming.