The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Sellafield Ltd were pleased to welcome Baroness Verma , the new Parliamentary Under Secretary for Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to West Cumbria and Sellafield.

The visit to Sellafield provided an opportunity for Baroness Verma, who has replaced Lord Marland, to familiarise herself with the most complex decommissioning and clean-up challenges in the UK.

Baroness Verma today called for a continued and strong focus on decommissioning at the Sellafield nuclear site as she praised the "dedication and professionalism" of the workforce on her first visit to West Cumbria.

John Clarke, the NDA's Chief Executive, welcomed the Minister to West Cumbria at the NDA's headquarters, Herdus House, before Managing Director for Sellafield Ltd, Todd Wright, and Mark Lesinski, the NDA's Chief Operating Officer, accompanied the group to Sellafield for a tour of some of the site's facilities and plants. Todd was delighted to share with Baroness Verma details of our priority areas such as risk and hazard reduction and our commitment to safety and security. 

John Clarke said:

"Along with our colleagues at Sellafield Ltd we were extremely pleased to have an early opportunity to explain to Baroness Verma the important role West Cumbria and Sellafield Ltd plays in the current UK nuclear decommissioning industry."

Baroness Verma, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Energy and Climate Change, said:

"Visiting Sellafield really does drive home the sheer scale and size of the challenge posed by our nuclear legacy, and why we must continue to focus relentlessly on our world-leading decommissioning efforts.

"Decommissioning and cleaning up the site will take many decades, but I am very encouraged by the progress being made and the dedication and professionalism of everyone at the site."