23/10/03 - Minister welcomed to Cumbria Nuclear Conference

Councillor Rex Toft, Leader of Cumbria County Council, was today welcoming  a Government Minister to  West Cumbria to take part in a forum about the major changes ahead in the nuclear industry.

Nigel Griffiths MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Small Businesses, was making the keynote speech at a two-day conference at Westlakes Research Institute entitled Nuclear Clean-up: Skills, Education and Environmental Challenges.

Councillor Toft welcomed Mr Griffiths, delegates and speakers to Cumbria, the heart of the UK nuclear industry. Councillor Toft was also echoing the cross-party welcome for the Government’s decision to site the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency headquarters in West Cumbria.

Afterwards Councillor Toft, along with West Cumbria MPs Jack Cunningham and Tony Cunningham and others, was having a private meeting with the minister to discuss issues relating to the rundown of Sellafield and future investment in West Cumbria.