To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 547W to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, what role his Department has in monitoring the spending of public money by that authority. (125053)

[holding answer 2 March 2007]: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a non- departmental public body (NDPB). My Department sets its budget, which includes grant in aid, and my officials monitor the NDA in line with parliamentary controls set out in Government Accounting—which includes agreeing limits on the NDA’s delegated authority. In addition, officials have due regard to compliance with Cabinet Office guidance on the management of NDPBs.