Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board

Michael Fallon Excerpts

Monday 31st March 2014 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Michael Fallon)]

On 10 October 2013, I announced through a written ministerial statement—Official Report, column 31WS—the commencement of the triennial review of the Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board (NLFAB). I am now pleased to announce the completion of the review.

NLFAB plays an important role providing independent and expert advice to Ministers on the financing arrangements in the funded decommissioning programme (FDP). Under the Energy Act 2008 the operator must submit the FDP to the Secretary of State. Nuclear related construction can only take place once the FDP has been approved by the Secretary of State.

The review concludes that the functions performed by NLFAB are still required and that it should be retained as an advisory non-departmental public body (NDPB). The review also looked at the governance arrangements for the body in line with guidance on good corporate governance set out by the Cabinet Office. The report makes some recommendations in this respect; these will start to be implemented shortly.

The full report of the NLFAB review of can be found on the gov.uk website: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/triennial-review-report-nuclear-liabilities-financing-assurance-board-nlfab and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.