Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 April 2007. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 30 April 2007 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Thorp

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety implications associated with the re-opening of the Thorp reprocessing plant; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 16 April 2007]: The Health and Safety Executive’s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate issued a Consent on 9 January 2007 to allow the THORP plant to reopen—satisfied that the site licensee had done all work necessary to ensure THORP could be restarted safely. The precise date to restart reprocessing fuel at THORP is a matter for the licensee—Sellafield Ltd. in discussion with the site owner the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Secondary information