Written question asked by Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 13 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 February 2002. It was answered by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Monday, 25 February 2002 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, if she will make a statement on her Department's liabilities management unit with specific reference to (a) its role, (b) its level of staff, (c) its annual budget and (d) the expected length of its existence.

Answer: Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's liabilities management unit with specific reference to (a) its role, (b) its level of staff, (c) its annual budget and (d) the expected length of its existence. [37083] Mr. Wilson: The Department's Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) is in the process of being established. Action is in hand to recruit senior staff and to appoint a partner contractor with top quality technical, operational and strategic management skills. As yet, however, no decision has been taken about the overall composition of the LMU or its budget. The LMU is intended to strengthen DTI's capacity for overseeing work on the nuclear legacy prior to the creation of the proposed Liabilities Management Authority (LMA). This includes, in particular, acquiring a more detailed knowledge of BNFL liabilities and working with BNFL to develop measures for monitoring BNFL's performance as a liabilities manager. We envisage that the LMU will be wound up once the LMA is operational.

Secondary information