Artist's impression of Olympic Park, formerly a research reactor site: proof that nuclear sites can be safely decommissioned

The 2012 Olympics, to be hosted in London, are proposed to be held on Olympic Park, formerly the site of an experimental nuclear reactor. It was announced on 28 June, that the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) fusion reactor will be constructed at Cadarache in France. On the same day, in Britain, the Royal Navy invited navies from across the seas to join them in the commencement of the Trafalgar 200 Festivities. Back at the Westminster camp, and still on the same day, a British audience listened to two members of the French National Assembly offering their perspective on the nuclear experience.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy welcomed French MPs Christian Bataille and Claude Birraux to their Annual General Meeting. The Group were intrigued at how far ahead of the UK the French are in the legislation process towards a waste management programme, with a deep geological waste repository to be endorsed in principle next summer. With an EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) on its way at Flamanville, their entire programme is steaming ahead. The French pride themselves in their energy self-sufficiency and low carbon output, thanks to that fact that almost 80% of their electricity is sourced from nuclear.

With the heightened interest in energy matters pre and post General Election and the issue of climate change very much in the public eye, thanks to the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, NIA, in association with the Scientific Alliance, were determined to make the most of the presence of Bataille and Birraux, and so hosted a high level summer reception in Parliament. Over sixty delegates from Parliament, Government departments, industry and academia congregated to listen to the 'French Experience' of the nuclear energy industry. In addition Professor Philip Thomas of City University gave a presentation on risk in the industry. Key players, including Gordon MacKerron, Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), and Jamie Reed, the new MP for Sellafield's constituency of Copeland, were present. The French Parliament Channel filmed the proceedings and interviewed Professor David Cope, who heads the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology, and Lord Jenkin of Roding who offered their very positive impressions on the evening's revelations. So much has changed since the Battle of Trafalgar. We no longer see France as an adversary, but as an example to follow.

New Chair John Robertson MP

New Secretary Michael Connarty MP

Treasurer Jimmy Hood MP

Energy matters have fluctuated in importance over the last three or four months. Nuclear new build was a central issue in the media and in Government around election time, but then fizzled out shortly afterwards, perhaps as a result of the worthy cause of Africa's plight taking centre stage. Nevertheless, NIA will continue to push forward with a vigorous programme, offering assistance to the recently announced Select Committee members, in particular the DTI, DEFRA and Science and Technology Committees, and their new Chairmen, Peter Luff MP, Michael Jack MP and Phil Willis MP respectively. On the waste issue CoRWM have completed their second round of consultation and short-listed options for radioactive waste management in this country: near surface disposal for short-lived wastes; long-term interim storage; the internationally favoured option of deep geological disposal and phased geological disposal. MacKerron's presence at the reception with Bataille and Birraux and then at the hugely successful 'Nuclear Congress 05' "Fuel for Thought" (see page 7), where he participated in a session on the management of the country's liabilities, will hopefully have proved useful in his and CoRWM's deliberations on the matter.

Happily, the industry itself is also changing in many ways; we are no longer stuck with an outdated image and approach. The NDA is introducing the challenge of competition, and implementing decommissioning solutions. France is technologically advancing the fusion programme alongside the existing Joint European Torus (JET) fusion reactor at Culham, while in Idaho the industry is in the early stages of funding the first Generation IV fission reactor, offering hydrogen as a by-product, and the ability to recycle its own waste. At "Fuel for Thought", Malcolm Wicks called for a greater focus from the industry, a keener sense of responsibility and delivery. He also said that if the Government is serious about the issues of climate change, security of supply and economic competitiveness, then it cannot close the door on the nuclear option without a fair hearing. We will work on improving the industry's case, but we would also like to see change coming from Government, in the guise of an energy review to include a fair and balenced consideration of nuclear.