27 January 2006
The trade union representing nuclear industry civil servants has urged ministers to focus on staff skills and safety in any future plans to privatise decommissioning.
Prospect this week submitted to the Department for Trade and Industry its proposed criteria for companies bidding to decommission sites from clean-up company British Nuclear Group.
The union, which still opposes the potential sale of BNG by owner British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, has presented six core recommendations.
These include future contractors or owners proving they have 'first rate' health and safety plans, security and environmental performance. But the union says any firms must equally have 'experience of highly skilled' undertakings, as well as a record of successful partnerships and achievement.
'Prospect will argue strongly for investment by any new owner in facilities as well as people so that BNG maintains its innovative edge. This means working with the sector skills council on future skills needs and helping people in the industry to adapt and reskill as necessary,' the union's submission states.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and BNFL are consulting on the potential introduction of competition for contracts. This week's submission followed the government's decision to take a 'pragmatic look' at its future energy options, including the wider use of nuclear power.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson officially launched his energy review consultation on January 23. Documents obtained by Greenpeace have indicated that business groups have long been lobbying the government to change the rules that prevent quick decisions over the sites of potential future nuclear reactors, possibly by approving reactor designs before a site is chosen.
Prospect assistant general secretary Mike Clancy welcomed Johnson's proposal to consult the Health and Safety Executive over the potential use of such 'pre-licensing' agreements.
DoH changes aimed at beefing up commissioning
A planned overhaul of senior management at the Department of Health is aimed at boosting Whitehall's focus on commissioning, social care and market development, and strengthening NHS finance functions amid fears over deficits.
Changes announced by NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp on January 20 will include the creation of four new posts on the DoH's board, covering commissioning, 'provider development', social care and policy and strategy.
Crisp's shake-up also hands finance director Richard Douglas, the architect of the controversial payment by results hospital funding system, oversight of all future financial activity.
At the same time, deputy finance director Kevin Orford, a former director of finance and delivery at West Midlands South NHS strategic health authority, has become acting NHS financial controller.
Douglas's unit has been charged with getting a grip on NHS spending, following accusations that Patient Choice and hospital competition has been undermined by combined deficits of £1bn across 25% of all NHS trusts.
Of the new posts, Sir Ian Carruthers – chief executive of Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority – will become acting director of commissioning and Bill McCarthy acting director of policy and strategy.
Professor John Appleby, chief economist at the King's Fund, said that the department appeared to 'be responding to criticisms that it has neglected commissioning'.
Change of plan for RAF staff relocation
Senior Ministry of Defence officials have changed relocation plans for more than 120 Royal Air Force civil servants following 'substantial increases' in the cost of the original move.
The communications support staff, currently based around the UK, were due to be moved to a single operations hub at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire in 2006. Now, after officials' intervention, defence minister Adam Ingram has chosen RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire instead.
The cost of setting up a new home for the Air Combat Service Support Unit at RAF Leeming is expected to be £55m cheaper.
A spokesman for the MoD told Public Finance that projected refurbishment and additional building work costs had increased at RAF Scampton, home to the Red Arrows display team.
Ingram said a review of the project concluded that RAF Leeming would be 'significantly more cost effective'.
He added: 'This is the right decision for defence, the RAF and for taxpayers.'
The new deal is subject to consultation with unions, but Prospect said its members involved had backed the plan.
PFjan2006
