FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
September 18, 2003
BRITISH ENERGY PLC
(Registrant's name)
3 Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride G74 5PR
Scotland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Exhibit Index
The following document (bearing the exhibit number listed below) is furnished
herewith and is made a part of this Report pursuant to the General Instructions
for Form 6-K:
Exhibit Description
No. 1 RNS Announcement, re: GOVERNMENT STATEMENT
dated 18 September, 2003
18 SEPTEMBER 2003
BRITISH ENERGY PLC - STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY
The Company wishes to draw your attention to the written statement to Parliament
by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made earlier today, which is
detailed below:
"British Energy Credit Facility Agreement
On 7 March, I informed the House that British Energy had repaid to my Department
all outstanding amounts under the credit facility. On a contingency basis I
decided, with the company's agreement, to continue the facility, with the
maximum amount available being reduced from GBP650 million to GBP200 million.
British Energy has subsequently utilised the facility in August. As the House
was in recess at the time the drawing was made, my Department wrote to the
Chairs of the Committee of Public Accounts and the Trade and Industry Committee
to inform them of the fact. At the beginning of September, British Energy's
outstanding drawdown on the facility was GBP13.1 million.
The controls governing drawings on the facility by British Energy remain in
place. As with the company's previous drawings, we expect further drawings to be
repaid in full, including interest, as soon as the company is in a position to
do so. British Energy's obligations under the credit facility agreement are
secured by charges over the British Energy Group's assets. This security is in
the nature of a senior charge which would take priority over the claims of other
creditors should the company become insolvent.
British Energy continues to work on implementing its restructuring plan. It
announced on 11 September that it had agreed the sale of its stake in its US
joint venture, AmerGen, subject to certain regulatory and other conditions. But
there remain significant milestones ahead. Successful implementation of the
restructuring plan will require a number of further conditions to be met,
including satisfactory formal commitments from creditors to support the plan,
completion of the AmerGen sale and receipt of state aids approval from the
European Commission. I will also need to be satisfied that implementation of the
restructuring will lead to a viable restructured entity that will not be
dependent on Government support in the long term. If these conditions cannot be
met, the Government remains well prepared for administration".
Contacts:
Andrew Dowler Financial Dynamics, Media 020 7831 3113
Paul Heward British Energy, Investor Relations 01355 262 201
Website: www.british-energy.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: September 18, 2003 BRITISH ENERGY PLC
By:____Paul Heward____
Name: Paul Heward
Title: Director - Investor Relations