To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to inform members of the public of its consultation process in respect of the 11 sites identified for potential new nuclear power stations in England and Wales. (270468)

The Government will consult on the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement, which will contain the results of its assessment of the suitability of the 11 sites, later in the year. Detailed plans for this consultation are not yet in place.

However, the Department has created a leaflet detailing the steps at which the public can have their say in the siting process. Since January 2009, 28,500 hard copies have been sent out in English and 3,000 in Welsh and this leaflet is also available at:

www.nuclearpowersiting.gov.uk

In addition to this, the 11 nominations have been made available to the public on this website and members of the public will be able to comment on those nominations from 15 April to 14 May this year. This is in addition to the consultation on the draft list of sites which will take place later this year and was introduced in response to comments made during the Government's consultation on the SSA process last year.

The Government have taken various steps to inform people about the opportunity to comment on nominations. In particular, it was advertised in 46 local newspapers around sites. The titles were chosen with input from the relevant local authorities.

In addition, the Department's press notice and ministerial contact with national media meant that there was extensive regional and national press coverage of the opportunity to comment on the sites, and an email alert was sent to over 1,100 stakeholders who have registered with the Office for Nuclear Development as interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Department will spend on publicising its consultation on the proposed sites for new nuclear power stations. (270470)

The Government will consult on the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement, which will contain the results of its assessment of the suitability of the 11 sites, later in the year. Detailed plains for this consultation are not yet in place. However, the Department has created a leaflet outlining how the public can have their say in the siting process. Since January 2009, 28,500 hard copies have been sent out in English and 3,000 in Welsh, at a cost of £10,521 so far.

In addition to this, the 11 nominations have been made available to the public on a dedicated website and members of the public will be able to comment on those nominations from 15 April to 14 May this year. This is in addition to the consultation on the draft list of sites which will take place later this year and was introduced in response to comments made during the Government's consultation on the SSA process last year.

The Government have taken various steps to inform people about the opportunity to comment on nominations. In particular, it was advertised in 46 local newspapers around sites. The titles were chosen with input from the relevant local authorities. In addition, the Department's press notice and ministerial contact with national media meant that there was extensive regional and national press coverage of the opportunity to comment on the sites, and an email alert was sent to over 1,100 stakeholders who have registered with the Office for Nuclear Development as interested parties.