Japanese nuclear reactors
Implications of events at Japanese nuclear reactors on plants in the UK
17 May 2011
The Energy and Climate Change Committee will hold a one-off oral evidence session with the Government's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, Dr Mike Weightman, on the conclusions of his interim report published today on the implications of events at Japanese nuclear reactors on existing and new plants in the UK
- Parliament TV: Japanese earthquake and tsunami: implications for the UK nuclear industry
- Energy and Climate Change Committee
Witnesses
The session will take place at 10am on Thursday 9 June 2011 in the Grimond room, Portcullis House.
- Dr Mike Weightman, HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations
- Gary Booth, Technical Assistant to the Chief Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation
What will the session cover?
How does the incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant and its health implications compare to other disasters such as the Windscale fire, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl?
- How does the assessment and regulation of the designs of the reactors affected in Japan compare to the regulation in the UK?
- What are the lessons to be learned for the UK?
- How can the Government and industry improve the way it communicates information on nuclear safety to the public?
- Which hazards could pose a threat to nuclear facilities in the UK and what steps should the industry be taking to mitigate the risks posed by emergency events?
- Are any changes needed to the UK’s nuclear licensing, safety and emergency response regimes?
- What provisions should be made in the National Policy Statements on Energy for potential development sites at risk of flooding?
- What changes need to be made to the regulations governing nuclear energy?
- What changes should the Government be recommending to the international arrangements in place for responding to nuclear events around the world?