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Capper Pass Claims Rio Tinto Plc And Bnfl

EDM number 1443 in 2002-03, proposed by Kevin McNamara on 18/06/2003.

That this House is extremely concerned to learn that British Nuclear Fuels Limited is providing expert support to Rio Tinto plc, the multinational mining conglomerate, to assist it in defending claims arising from the operation of the former Capper Pass Smelting Plant near Hull in East Yorkshire; recalls that over 600 ex-employees and residents have suffered cancer, leukaemia and other serious illnesses, caused by exposure to radioactivity and toxic substances; expresses further concern that Rio Tinto's experts include BNFL's Principal Research Scientist and its former Head of Environmental Protection, formerly Chief Executive of WestLakes Scientific Consulting and currently Principal Consultant, WestLakes Research Institute, set up by BNFL; notes that a third expert advised BNFL in the Sellafield childhood leukaemia cases; concludes that BNFL is determined that the Capper Pass claims should fail, to avoid any finding that environmental and occupational exposure to radioactivity has caused cancer and leukaemia, thereby setting a precedent to be relied upon by Sellafield campaigners on both sides of the Irish Sea; deplores the fact that BNFL's alliance with Rio Tinto, against the Capper Pass families, has created a grossly unequal contest, entailing two Goliaths turning up for the fight with David; and calls upon BNFL and Rio Tinto to desist forthwith from such oppressive bullying tactics.

This motion has been signed by a total of 27 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Kevin McNamara18/06/2003Kingston upon Hull NorthLabourProposed
Vincent Cable19/06/2003TwickenhamLiberal DemocratSigned
Martin Caton19/06/2003GowerLabourSigned
Jeremy Corbyn19/06/2003Islington NorthLabourSigned
Ann Cryer19/06/2003KeighleyLabourSigned
Harry Barnes19/06/2003North East DerbyshireLabourSigned
Paul Holmes20/06/2003ChesterfieldLiberal DemocratSigned
Nigel Jones23/06/2003CheltenhamLiberal DemocratSigned
Paul Marsden23/06/2003Shrewsbury & AtchamLiberal DemocratSigned
Llew Smith24/06/2003Blaenau GwentLabourSigned
Lynne Jones24/06/2003Birmingham, Selly OakLabourSigned
Alice Mahon24/06/2003HalifaxLabourSigned
David Taylor24/06/2003North West LeicestershireLabour Co-operativeSigned
Harold Best25/06/2003Leeds North WestLabourSigned
Colin Breed26/06/2003South East CornwallLiberal DemocratSigned
Paul Tyler26/06/2003North CornwallLiberal DemocratSigned
Terry Davis30/06/2003Birmingham, Hodge HillLabourSigned
Andrew Dismore30/06/2003HendonLabourSigned
Paul Flynn30/06/2003Newport WestLabourSigned
Mike Hancock30/06/2003Portsmouth SouthLiberal DemocratSigned
Patsy Calton02/07/2003CheadleLiberal DemocratSigned
Rudi Vis02/07/2003Finchley & Golders GreenLabourSigned
Bill Etherington03/07/2003Sunderland NorthLabourSigned
John Barrett04/07/2003Edinburgh WestLiberal DemocratSigned
Alan Simpson16/07/2003Nottingham SouthLabourSigned
Michael Meacher18/09/2003Oldham West & RoytonLabourSigned
Simon ThomasUnknownWithdrawn

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