Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what resources her Department allocated to the work of the Independent Review Panel organised by the Geological Society to oversee draft guidance for the National Geological Screening being undertaken by Radioactive Waste Management Ltd; and what payment has been made to each panel member in respect of (a) per diem costs, (b) compensation for work time lost due to participation and (c) travel and subsistence costs to date.

The National Geological Screening Independent Review Panel was established by The Geological Society of London at the request of my Department. It works independently from Government with secretariat support provided by the Science Council, with costs passed to my Department. To date, my Department has allocated £7,000 for the secretariat support and delivery of facilitated public engagement.

The Department also meets the reasonable travel and subsistence costs of panel members and considers requests for recompense for loss of earnings in the case of panel members who are independent consultants. To date, members have been reimbursed a total of:

· Per diem costs - £0;

· Compensation for work time lost due to participation - £0;

· Travel and subsistence costs - £1,303.94.