Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Friday, 18 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 25 February 2005. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Friday, 25 February 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when she expects to publish the latest annual nuclear material unaccounted for data for United Kingdom civil nuclear installations; what discussions (a) her Department, (b) BNFL and (c) the UK Atomic Energy Authority has had with (i) the Euratom Safeguards Directorate and (ii) the International Atomic Energy Agency on the verification of the data; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish the latest annual nuclear material unaccounted for data for United Kingdom civil nuclear installations; what discussions (a) her Department, (b) BNFL and (c) the UK Atomic Energy Authority has had with (i) the Euratom Safeguards Directorate and (ii) the International Atomic Energy Agency on the verification of the data; and if she will make a statement. [217606] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, British Nuclear Fuels plc and Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd. published nuclear material unaccounted for data for 2003-04 on 17 February 2005. Prior to publication, the industry wrote to the European Commission's Safeguards Directorate and the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that the figures to be published were reconciled with safeguards reports made under Commission Regulation 3227/76. This correspondence was conducted through the Safeguards Office in my Department. BNFL and the Safeguards Office are currently in discussion with the European Commission to resolve measurement issues that have been identified in certain aspects of nuclear material accountancy at Sellafield.

Secondary information