Written statement: Direction to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in respect of the Hinkley Point B Nuclear Site - June 25

Minister for Energy (Michael Shanks): My Honourable Friend Lord Vallance of Balham, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation has today made the following statement:

I am today laying a designation direction, which has been given to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in respect of the Hinkley Point B nuclear site. The direction reaffirms NDA's responsibility for the cleaning up and decommissioning of the site, triggering their powers under the Energy Act 2004. The direction has been given with the consent of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited and Nuclear Restoration Services, in accordance with sections 3 and 5 of the Energy Act 2004.

This is a significant moment for nuclear decommissioning as the direction marks the second nuclear site of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fleet that will transfer to Government for decommissioning.