Annex A: Terms of reference for the members
of the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM)
Introduction
1. Following the announcements by UK Government
and the devolved administrations (Government), on 25 October 2006,
a new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) will be
appointed under these revised terms of reference designed to meet
the future needs of the Government's Managing Radioactive Waste
Safely (MRWS) programme. The Committee will be jointly appointed
by UK Government and devolved administration Ministers. Details
of its roles, responsibilities and membership are outlined below.
CoRWM's Role and Responsibilities
2. The role of the reconstituted Committee on
Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) will be to provide independent
scrutiny and advice to UK Government and Devolved Administration
Ministers on the long term management, including storage and disposal,
of radioactive waste. CoRWM's primary task is to provide independent
scrutiny on the Government's and NDA's proposals, plans and programmes
to deliver geological disposal, together with robust interim storage,
as the long term management option for the UK's higher activity
wastes.
3. Sponsoring Ministers (from Defra, DTI and
the Devolved Administrations) will agree a three-year rolling
programme and budget for CoRWM's work on an annual basis. Any
in-year changes will be the subject of agreement by sponsoring
Ministers.
4. CoRWM will provide appropriate and timely
evidence-based advice on Government and Nuclear Decommissioning
Authority (NDA) plans for the delivery of a geological disposal
facility for higher activity wastes under the Managing Radioactive
Waste Safety programme. The work programme may include review
of activities including waste packaging options, geological disposal
facility delivery programmes and plans, site selection processes
and criteria, and the approach to public and stakeholder engagement.
Testing the evidence base of the plans for the delivery of a geological
disposal facility will be a key component of the work. As well
as ongoing dialogue with Government, the implementing body, local
authorities and stakeholders, the CoRWM will provide an annual
report of its work to Government.
5. CoRWM shall undertake its work in an open
and consultative manner. It will engage with stakeholders and
it will publish advice (and the underpinning evidence) in a way
that is meaningful to the non-expert. It will comply, as will
sponsoring departments, with Guidelines on Scientific Analysis
in Policy Making (http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file9767.pdf) as
well as other relevant Government advice and guidelines. Government
will respond to all substantive advice. Published advice and reports
will be made available in respective Parliaments/Assemblies, as
will any Government response. CoRWM's Chair will attend Parliamentary/Assembly
evidence sessions as and when required.
6. With the agreement of CoRWM's sponsoring Ministers,
other parts of Government, the NDA and the regulatory bodies may
request independent advice from CoRWM. Relevant Parliamentary/Assembly
Committees may also propose work to sponsoring Ministers, for
consideration in the work programme. CoRWM's priority role is
set out in paragraph 2 although sponsoring Ministers may also
ask the Committee to provide advice on other radioactive waste
management issues as necessary.
7. In delivering its annual work programme, and
where there is a common interest, the Committee will liaise with
appropriate advisory bodies including Health and Safety Commission
advisory bodies, and any advisory bodies established by the environment
agencies.
8. CoRWM shall consist of a Chair and up to fourteen
members, one of whom will be appointed by Ministers as Deputy
Chair on the recommendation of the Chair. Seats will not be representative
of organisation or sectoral interests and the skills and expertise
which will need to be available to the Committee will vary depending
on the programme of work. For example, the relevant skills may
include: radioactive waste management, nuclear science, radiation
protection, environmental law, environment issues, social science
(including public and stakeholder engagement), geology/ geochemistry/hydrogeology,
finance/economics, civil engineering/underground construction
technology, geological disposal facility performance/safety issues,
materials science, environmental impact assessment, local Government,
planning, regulatory processes and ethics. Sponsoring Ministers
may review the membership of the Committee, and the skills and
expertise required.
9. Appointments will be made following the Office
of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) code of practice.
Initial appointments will be for three years and sponsoring Ministers
retain the right to terminate appointments at any time in light
of individual members' performance, changes in CoRWM's work requirements,
or completion of the work required of CoRWM.
10. The Committee, as agreed in the annual plans,
may co-opt additional expertise to form or support temporary sub-groups
set up to examine specific and defined problems.
Programme of work
11. To support its work, CoRWM will need to familiarise
itself with Government policy in this area, including ongoing
meetings with relevant Government departments and the NDA. The
outline framework within which CoRWM is then expected to work
is:
(i) recognising the policy framework within which
it will operate including the roles and responsibilities of Government
and the NDA in relation to CoRWM's own advisory role;
(ii) scrutinising Government and NDA proposals,
plans and programmes to implement geological disposal and other
radioactive waste management issues on which Government might
seek advice as agreed in CoRWM's work plan;
(iii) formulation of advice and reporting to
Government based on the best available evidence and informed by
the views of stakeholders and the public;
12. CoRWM will prepare its draft work programme,
within this outline framework, in conjunction with Government,
the NDA and regulators, taking account of work by other advisory
bodies (see paragraph 7 above). The programme will include details
of specific areas of work, reports which it intends to produce,
the proposed use of sub-groups and any other activities or events,
including proposals for public and stakeholder engagement. CoRWM
will submit its first draft three-year work programme proposal
to its sponsoring Ministers for discussion and agreement at an
appropriate early stage following appointment of the full Committee.
Subsequent three-year work programmes will be agreed annually
on a rolling basis.
13. In familiarising themselves with the relevant
background and issues, Members will make themselves aware, and
take account, of previous engagement and reports in the Managing
Radioactive Waste Safely programme, the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory
and the nature of current and expected future UK holdings of plutonium,
uranium and spent nuclear fuel. CoRWM will take account of existing
technical assessments and research into radioactive waste management
in the UK and elsewhere. In particular, it is recognised that
CoRWM will need to engage with the NDA given that the Committee's
advice will directly impinge on the long-term responsibilities
of the NDA. CoRWM will also take account of other relevant policy
developments.
14. The Chair will submit a report to Ministers
by 30 June each year on the delivery of the agreed work programme.
This will be made available in the UK and Scottish Parliament,
the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Access to other sources of expertise
15. Members of CoRWM itself will not have all
the skills and expertise necessary to advise Government. The Committee
will need to decide how best to secure access to other appropriate
sources of expert input during the course of its work. Within
this, it will have option of setting up expert sub-groups containing
both Members of CoRWM itself and other appropriate co-opted persons.
A member of CoRWM will chair any sub-group of this nature and
ensure its effective operation, as well as provide a clear line
of responsibility and accountability to the main Committee, and
hence to Ministers. This approach will enable the Committee to
draw on a broad range of expertise in the UK and elsewhere.
16. The number of such sub-groups will be kept
to the minimum necessary. Their role will be that of providing
advice for the main Committee to consider and assess as it sees
fit, and managing any activity which CoRWM delegates to them.
It will be for the main Committee to assess and decide upon the
advice it receives from such sub-groups. CoRWM may also utilise
other appropriate means of securing expert input, such as sponsored
meetings and seminars. The Chair will ensure that sub-group work
and all other activities are closely integrated.
Public and stakeholder engagement
17. CoRWM must continue to inspire public confidence
in the way in which it works. In order to secure such confidence
in its advice it will work in an open and transparent manner.
Hence, its work should be characterised by:
- a published reporting and transparency
policy;
- relevant public and stakeholder engagement as
required;
- clear communications including the use of plain
English, publishing its advice (and the underpinning evidence)
in a way that is meaningful to the non-expert;
- making information accessible;
- encouraging people to ask questions or make their
views known and listening to their concerns;
- providing opportunities for people to challenge
information, for example by making clear the sources of information
and points of view on which the Committee's advice is based;
- holding a number of its meetings in public.
Responsibilities of the committee and its members
18. CoRWM will have a corporate responsibility
to deliver its advice to sponsoring Ministers in accordance with
agreed work plans. It will be for Ministers, with appropriate
reference to their respective Parliaments and Assembly, to take
decisions on the advice it receives and to give directions to
the NDA as necessary on any subsequent changes required in the
delivery of geological disposal of the UK's solid radioactive
waste.
19. All members will need to be effective team
workers, with good analytical skills and good judgement besides
a strong interest in the process of decision-making on difficult
issues. A number of them will need experience of project management,
advising on scientific and technical issues directly relating
to radioactive waste management, public and stakeholder engagement,
excellent drafting and communication skills, or business experience
and knowledge of economics.
20. The Chair, in addition, will be capable of
successfully and objectively leading committee-based projects,
grasping complex technical issues, and managing a diverse group
effectively and delivering substantial results, presenting progress
and outcomes in public. He or she will be a person with appropriate
stature and credibility.
Role of the Chair
21. The Chair will be responsible for supervising
the CoRWM work programme and ensuring that the Committee's objectives
are achieved. The Chair will be responsible for advising Ministers
promptly if he or she anticipates that the Committee will not
complete its agreed work programme indicating what remedial action
might be taken. He or she will be the main point of contact with
the public and the media, in presenting progress and answering
questions. The Chair will meet Ministers on appointment, and then
at least annually along with other members as appropriate. Notes
of these meetings will be published. The Chair will ensure CoRWM
submits its annual written report to Ministers, by 30 June of
each year. The Chair may be required to present the position of
CoRWM to Parliament or Assembly committees and representatives
as appropriate. The report will set out, among other things, CoRWM's
progress with the agreed work programme, advice deriving from
it and costs incurred. Ministers will also appoint a Deputy Chair
who can assist the Chair as the latter sees fit.
Role of Members
22. Members will work, under the Chair's supervision,
to the programme agreed with sponsoring Ministers, so as to ensure
its satisfactory delivery. Members will have a collective responsibility
to ensure achievement of CoRWM's objectives and delivery of its
work programme. Individual Members may be appointed by the Chair
to undertake specific, active roles, for example chairing sub-groups
or in representing CoRWM in meetings with the public, organisations
who are contributing to the work, or the media. All members will
abide by CoRWM's Code of Practice and will be subject to individual
performance appraisal as laid down by the Cabinet Office guide
(see next paragraph).
Standards
23. CoRWM is set up by, and answerable to Ministers
and is funded by the taxpayer. It must therefore comply with the
Cabinet Office guide "Public Bodies: a Guide for Departments"
(http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public_bodies_2006/1_case_assessment.pdf).
24. These and other relevant procedural requirements
will be set out in CoRWM's Code of Practice which Members will
agree to, prior to appointment.
Resources
25. Sponsoring Ministers will provide CoRWM with
resources—both staff and financial—to enable it to
carry out its agreed programme of work. These will include a secretariat
which will help CoRWM carry out its work programme including,
at the outset, providing reading material and arranging for any
further briefings and visits. The Chair and Members will have
a collective responsibility for delivering the work programme
within the agreed budget, although the Chair may request sponsoring
Ministers for adjustment to this budget should this be considered
necessary.
Payments
26. The Chair and Members will be paid for their
work for CoRWM at agreed daily rates. They will also be fully
reimbursed for all reasonable travel and subsistence costs incurred
during the course of their work.
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