To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the letter sent to the Minister for Energy on 5 July by the chairman of the Consumers Union of Japan relating to THORP.

The letter arrived on 19 July. I shall be replying in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects THORP to be commissioned; and if he will make a statement.

Before commissioning its thermal oxide reprocessing plant, British Nuclear Fuels plc will need such consents and authorisations as may be required by law. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 28 June, Official Report, column 392, there is to be a further round of consultation. This is expected to start shortly and to last for two months. Final decisions will be taken following this further period of consultation.