Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

I beg to move amendment No. 151, in

clause 15, page 13, line 31, at end insert—

'(6A) The strategy required by subsection (1)(a) must set out the income from any private sector operator from the decommissioning and cleaning-up of any installation or site owned by that private sector operator.'.

Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative)

With this we may discuss the following amendments: No. 154, in

clause 16, page 15, line 11, after 'incurred', insert

'and the income it is likely to secure'.

No. 157, in

clause 17, page 16, line 14, after 'State', insert—

'(ia) details of its forward programme of work, including anticipated income and expenditure, for the forthcoming year'.

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

In the interests of brevity, let me say that the amendments are self-explanatory and merely designed to provide clear lines of financial accountability, transparency and propriety. They expressly refer to ''income and expenditure'' in particular matters.

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)

The NDA's primary purpose is the decommissioning and clean-up of the UK's nuclear legacy—those public sector civil nuclear sites currently owned and operated by BNFL or UKAEA. That is what comprises the roughly £50 billion programme of nuclear clean-up, and the NDA will also acquire financial responsibility for those sites under clause 24. The Bill also allows the NDA to be given responsibility for securing clean-up at other sites. That is a matter of thinking ahead; the NDA will be the expert public sector body on nuclear clean-up. If circumstances arise in which the Government is faced with having to act in respect of private sector sites, we want to have that option available.

It is important, however, not to get carried away. There is one nuclear operator in the private sector—British Energy—which is currently the subject of a restructuring agreement that seeks to ensure safe and secure management of its nuclear liabilities. That is currently under discussion with the European Commission. The NDA will not be involved with the future operation of British Energy installations, except possibly on behalf of, or in an advisory capacity to, the Government in relation to their preparations for British Energy's operations on decommissioning. Even if the full cost of decommissioning of British Energy fell to the Government, which we are actively working to avoid, that would amount to well under 10

per cent. of the NDA's total clean-up programme, without taking account of any revenue derived from operating the generating stations in the meantime, before they are passed to the NDA to be decommissioned. The net impact on the public purse would be much lower. I hope, on that basis, that the hon. Gentleman feels that he can withdraw the amendment.

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

For the record, amendment No. 151 says:

''The strategy required by subsection (1)(a) must set out the income from any private sector operator from the decommissioning and cleaning-up of any installation or site owned by that private sector operator.'.

I tell the Committee that so that it is aware of what the Minister is recommending that we do not pass.

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)

The existing provisions on the NDA strategy annual plan report require the NDA to set out what it is doing in that respect.

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

If the Minister is telling me that that is already covered by the requirement in place, I am happy to accept that assurance. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 15 ordered to stand part of the Bill.