§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions since 1974 when nuclear material has been found to be unaccounted for, broken down by(a) the material and (b) the location where it had been held. [179055]
§ Mr. TimmsIn accordance with international practice, the inventory difference that occurs when the result of a physical inventory of nuclear material is compared with the book inventory is referred to as MUF (material unaccounted for'. The difference may be negative (an apparent loss) or positive (an apparent gain). MUF is a recognised feature of accounting for nuclear material and is caused primarily by the uncertainties inherent in the techniques used to measure nuclear material.
MUF figures at UKAEA, BNFL and Urenco sites are published annually by the industry. Figures published since 1973—74 will be placed in the Libraries of the House. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the employment rights and benefits of constables in the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary will change under the provisions of the Energy Bill. [178317]
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§ Mr. TimmsThe Energy Bill requires that the Secretary of State make a nuclear transfer scheme providing for the transfer to the Civil Nuclear Police Authority those employees of the UKAEA who are members of the UKAEA Constabulary. The Bill also provides for members of the UKAEA Constabulary to hold office as members of the new Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
There will be no practical effect on the employment rights and benefits of members of the UKAEA Constabulary as a result of this transfer. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) will apply, and current and future members of the Constabulary will continue to be eligible for membership of the UKAEA pension scheme.
The Bill prohibits members of the Constabulary from joining trade unions (subject to the same limited exceptions that apply to other police officers). This puts current informal arrangements on a statutory footing. It also brings the Constabulary into line with long established arrangements for other police forces. The restriction on trade union membership will not extend to civilian employees of the Police Authority.
The Bill also provides for statutory recognition of a Civil Nuclear Police Federation, and requires the Civil Nuclear Police Authority to align any provisions it makes about conditions of service of members of the new Constabulary with the provision made on such matters by police regulations (unless differences are justified due to the circumstances and structure of the Constabulary). Again this provides a statutory basis for current informal arrangements.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the proposed decommissioning dates are of each nuclear power station in the UK; and what level of carbon emissions would result if each was replaced by combined cycle gas turbine generation. [R]178321]
§ Mr. TimmsThe proposed closure dates of each nuclear power station in the UK are as follows:
Name of power plant Current proposed closure date Chapelcross 2005 Dungeness A 2006 Sizewell A 2006 Oldbury 2008 Dungeness B 2008 Wylfa 2010 Hinkley Point B 2011 Hunterston B 2011 Hartlepool 2014 Heysham 1 2014 Heysham 2 2023 Torness 2023 Sizewell B 2035 Output from nuclear generation in 2003 amounted to 82TWh. If this output was replaced by combined cycle gas turbine generation then the increase in carbon emissions would be around eight million tonnes of carbon per annum.