6th September 2006

The Trade and Industry Committee published last month a Report on the work of two public bodies with significant responsibilities for nuclear decommissioning and clean up, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

 
Philip Booth commented: "I was surprised to find that the Gloucestershire Green party's written evidence was one of only 21 reports which included many nuclear industry submissions. Sadly with so many consultations these days there are few who can find the time to look through vast consultation documents - and one wonders whether there is any point when you are not listened to."

Philip Booth continued: "However the Committee did seem to take some of our points on board - they were not convinced that the facilities intended to provide income for the NDA (in particular, the old Magnox nuclear power stations, and the trouble-prone THORP and MOX fuel processing plants at Sellafield) will in practice make a significant contribution to paying for nuclear decommissioning. The fear is that any gap between the increasing costs of decommissioning and decreasing income from facilities would have to be met by the taxpayer."

 
Philip Booth said: "The committee also concluded that nuclear clean up costs were set to rise again - yet despite all this the Government is set on new reactors and the Committee called for more money and research into fusion - this is the wrong direction and a wasteful exercise when we have clean, safe technology to combat Peak Oil and climate change - we just need to apply it."

 
See Committee report:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtrdind/1028/102803.htm