Nuclear Waste Services’ (NWS) Chief Policy Advisor Bruce Cairns and Sky News joined Finland’s Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) developer Posiva on a visit to the first underground repository for disposing of nuclear waste. 

Nestled 400 metres below ground in Southwest Finland, the ONKALO facility is the world’s first underground repository for spent nuclear waste.

Chief Policy Advisor, Bruce Cairns, recently paid a visit to the site alongside Thomas Moore, Science and Medical Correspondent at Sky News, to see the progress being made.

Inside the world’s first nuclear waste tomb in Finland

Talking to Sky News Bruce outlined the importance of delivering a similar facility in the UK .

“We have to take action to make sure this is managed responsibly, not just for now, but for the long-term. We have 70 years’ worth of waste in the UK, it’s already accumulated from energy production, defence, industrial processes and it’s not going anywhere unless we do something with it.”

Geological disposal is internationally recognised as a safe and secure way to dispose of higher-activity radioactive waste. Other countries, such as Sweden, France, Canada, Switzerland, and Japan – as well as Finland – are also making great strides in developing their own GDF programmes.

A GDF involves a series of highly engineered vaults and tunnels located up to 1,000 metres deep in a suitable rock formation. Combined with man-made barriers, this protects the environment and keeps the waste safe and secure while the radioactivity decays naturally to safe levels.

Four communities are already engaged in a dialogue with NWS on whether hosting a Geological Disposal Facility would work for them. Community Partnerships have formed in Mid Copeland, South Copeland, and Allerdale in Cumbria, and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire.

This nationwide process is based on community consent and includes detailed investigations over a number of years to ensure a GDF can be constructed safely and securely.

To learn more about GDF and for more information about progress, please read the GDF Annual Report.

Published 14 April 2022
Last updated 18 October 2022 + show all updates

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second approved the appointment of three new non-executive directors (NEDs) of the Court of the Bank of England. These appointments will be made by the King.

The new NEDs will take up their roles at the Bank’s Court in the coming months for terms lasting four years.

The Bank’s Court acts as the governing body responsible for setting the organisation’s strategy, budget and taking key decisions on resourcing and appointments. The Court is not responsible for the matters reserved to the Bank’s main policy committees, the Monetary Policy Committee, the Financial Policy Committee and Prudential Regulation Committee.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

“I am delighted to be able to announce the appointment of Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Sabine Chalmers and Tom Shropshire. Each of them will bring immense skill and experience to the Bank’s Court.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Bank’s leadership, and remain fully committed to its independence.”

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, said:

“I am very pleased to welcome Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Sabine Chalmers and Tom Shropshire as non-executive directors of Court. Their varied experiences make them invaluable additions to Court and the running of the Bank. I look forward to working with them all.”

David Roberts, incoming Chair of Court, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Jitesh, Tom and Sabine to the Bank’s Court of Directors. They will bring fresh insights, deep wisdom and wide experience to help Court fulfil its role of promoting the good of the people of the United Kingdom.”

About the appointments

The Bank of England is the central bank of the UK. It is governed by the board of directors known as the Court of Directors. Further information can be found at the Bank of England website.

All members of the Court are appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

All appointments to the Court are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who provides independent assurance that appointments are made in accordance with the Government’s Principles of Public Appointments and Governance Code.

About Lord Jitesh Gadhia

Lord Jitesh Gadhia has over 25 years of investment banking and financial services experience, having held senior positions at Blackstone, Barclays Capital, ABN AMRO and Baring Brothers. Lord Gadhia currently serves on the boards of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Taylor Wimpey plc and Compare The Market Limited. He previously served on the boards of UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI) and UK Government Investments Limited (UKGI).

About Sabine Chalmers

Sabine Chalmers is general counsel, company secretary, and director of regulatory affairs at BT. Sabine was previously chief legal and corporate affairs officer and company secretary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Sabine is currently a non-executive director at Anheuser-Busch InBev and has also served as a non-executive director at Coty.

About Tom Shropshire

Tom Shropshire is the general counsel and company secretary of Diageo plc. Prior to this, he was a partner at Linklaters LLP, where he was global head of the US Practice, founder and co-head of the Risk and Resilience Practice and a member of their executive committee.

In accordance with the original Nolan principles, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any is declared) to be made public. Lord Jitesh Gadhia was appointed as a Conservative Peer in 2016 and he became a non-affiliated member of the House of Lords in February 2017. Sabine Chalmers and Tom Shropshire have confirmed they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Defence industry organisations from India and the UK have come together to create a new Defence Industry Joint Working Group for more effective cooperation. The initiative is supported by the UK Government.

The inaugural meeting of the UK-India Defence Industry Joint Working Group was held on the side-lines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today. DefExpo will see representation from 20 UK defence companies. UK industry is already integrating Indian defence suppliers into their global supply chain, manufacturing defence equipment not just for India but for the world.

The Joint Working Group is part of an ongoing initiative between the two countries to strengthen the defence and security partnership through industrial collaboration. The UK recently issued its first Open General Export License (OGEL) in the Indo-Pacific region to India, shortening delivery times for defence procurement.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) recently conducted a subject matter expertise exchange with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) during the visit of Eurofighter Typhoon, Voyager and A400 in New Delhi and also held joint-flying exercises with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said:

A stronger UK-India defence relationship is an essential element of the British and Indian governments’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The British Government and industry presence at DefExpo is further proof of this, as is our support for co-creation of next generation capabilities that will be fully owned by India. The UK supports Prime Minister Modi’s ambitions of Make in India, Make for the World.

Mark Goldsack, Director, UK Defence and Security Exports, said:

This is another step in the growing defence relations between the two countries, who are working to establish a portfolio of collaborative projects to support the development of new technologies and capabilities as agreed under the 2030 Roadmap. The UK sees it is in its own interest that India becomes self-reliant in its defence needs. The UK is a world leader in critical defence technologies such as jet engine developments and electric propulsion technology. We are keen to share this expertise with India supported by our respective industries.

Further information

The Open General Export Licence is available to read here.

In the April 2022 joint statement, the UK and India have welcomed the finalisation of the Letter of Arrangement between the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The UK has offered advanced core technologies to India, capable of creating an indigenous, ITAR-free jet engine owned, manufactured and exported by India.

India and the UK have established an Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership. The Joint Working Group will establish a strong partnership between our respective navies for development of Electric Propulsion capability for India.

The UK India 2030 Roadmap commits to partnership on India’s indigenous combat air programmes, including LCA Mk-II and AMCA.

Rolls Royce have established packaging, installation, marketing and services support for Rolls-Royce MT30 marine engines in India through partnership with HAL.

Thales UK and BDL have signed an agreement to produce the next generation of VSHORAD missiles in India, supplying to both the UK and Indian Armies with a ‘Made in India’ Laser Beam Riding MANPAD System.

MBDA UK have established live build capability for the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) in partnership with BDL.

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