BRITISH ENERGY AND SELLAFIELD

Early day motion 366, tabled 12 December 2002 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 40 members.

That this House expresses its serious concern that the Government proposes to pay from 2003 onwards ú150 million to ú200 million per year into a new nuclear liabilities fund as part of a plan to save the privatised nuclear generator British Energy from administration; notes that a substantial share of British Energy's liabilities arise directly from the future operation of the THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield; further notes that spent nuclear fuel from British Energy's United Kingdom reactors can be stored instead of reprocessed in the THORP and that this would be at significantly less cost than reprocessing. that storage is already carried out at Sizewell B and elsewhere overseas, and that reprocessing increases the United Kingdom's plutonium stockpile and its associated costs; believes that the Government's proposals do not represent value for money for the taxpayer, as a large proportion of the liabilities are avoidable; and, therefore, calls upon the Government to re-examine and revise its offer to British Energy at the earliest opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 11, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.