Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Accepted
Department relies on NDA boards for resource allocation; lacks recent greenfield cost analysis.
Conclusion
We explored how the Department, as sponsor, ensures that the NDA and Sellafield Ltd achieve value for money. It told us that it was for the NDA board and the Sellafield board to decide how to allocate resources, within the funding envelope set by ministers.76 We also sought to understand what work had been done to understand the cost implications of the current policy of returning Sellafield to a ‘greenfield’ condition. The Department told us that it had not done any analysis recently, but that it doubted that any change to the end–state would affect what Sellafield Ltd needs to prioritise over the next five to ten years. It did however acknowledge that this could be more relevant in the short–term for some of the NDA’s other sites.77
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, committing to undertake scenario planning by December 2026 to improve visibility of the uncertainties linked to Sellafield Ltd's mission, particularly focusing on funding levels. This will be developed alongside an update to the NDA and Sellafield Ltd mission plan.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 To provide improved visibility of the uncertainty associated with the Sellafield Ltd mission which spans 100+ years, scenario planning will be undertaken with a focus on the impact of different funding levels. This will be generated alongside an update to the current plan of NDA and Sellafield Ltd mission. Utilising the Group Strategic Planning capability any Sellafield Ltd scenarios will be used to inform group level modelling and determine estate-wide impacts. Scenarios are informed by strategic assumptions, decisions, options and performance as appropriate. Noting that this will be a first iteration of presenting the Sellafield Ltd plan in the context of a range, a period of maturation will be required to ensure a clear and comprehensive logic exists. It will be necessary to agree the mechanism and timing, including what is published, noting that the NDA already publishes the Nuclear Liabilities estimate which has scrutiny and sign-off from the NAO.