JUSTIFICATION PROCESS FOR NEW NUCLEAR REACTORS

That this House notes that the justification process, which is a high level assessment of the benefits of building new nuclear power stations in relation to their health implications, is a legal obligation which must be completed by the Government before new nuclear power plants can be built; notes also that the justification process is a key part of the international system for attempting to ensure the safety of nuclear power; is extremely concerned that no satisfactory arrangements have been made for the safe disposal of nuclear waste in the UK and that justification is going ahead before new-design reactors have been approved by UK regulators; expresses further concern that there will be no parliamentary scrutiny of justification until after any decision to justify is made; believes that the justification of new nuclear reactors should be made in a transparent way in order to ensure maximum public understanding; and therefore calls on the Government to hold an independent inquiry into the case for justification, as permitted by existing regulations.