HC Deb 30 July 1957 vol 574 cc1059-61
43. Mr. Walter Elliot

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a decision on the applications made to him by the South of Scotland Electricity Board in connection with its proposal to construct a nuclear generating station at Hunterston, Ayrshire.

Mr. Maclay

Yes, Sir. I have considered the Report submitted to me by Sheriff H. R. Leslie, Q.C., whom I appointed to hold public inquiries into these applications. I have decided, in accordance with the conclusions of that Report, that it is in the national interest that the applications should be granted, subject to certain conditions, and to certain undertakings given by the Board, relating in particular to amenity and safety. Sheriff Leslie's Report is being published, and copies are available in the Library.

Mr. Elliot

Do I understand that the conditions are also contained in the Report, and are also being published?

Mr. Maclay

The conditions are contained in the letter which I have sent to the Secretary of the South of Scotland Electricity Board, and if it is for the convenience of the House I will arrange for that letter to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Elliot

Will my right hon. Friend circulate that letter in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Sir J. Hutchison

Can my right hon. Friend tell us if this now means that the coast is clear for the nuclear station to be proceeded with, and the construction to be started?

Mr. Maclay

Yes, Sir. Subject, of course, to the terms which I gave in my Answer.

Following is the letter:

29th July, 1957.

The Secretary,

South of Scotland Electricity Board,

351, Sauchiehall Street,

Glasgow, C.2.

Sir,

I am directed by the Secretary of State to refer to your letter of 15th October, 1956, applying for his consent under section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909, as amended, to the construction of a nuclear generating station mainly on Hunterston Estate and on other lands in the Parish of West Kilbride in the County of Ayr, to the applications made by you on the 18th August and 30th October, 1956, to the County Council of Ayr for planning permission to erect a nuclear generating station on the above-mentioned site and for access thereto, which were by directions under section 13 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland)Act, 1947, referred to the Secretary of State for his decision; and to your letter of 5th November, 1956, applying for confirmation of a Compulsory Purchase Order made by your Board on 29th October, 1956, in respect of the land required as the site of the proposed nuclear generating station.

These applications and the objections which were made to them were the subject of public inquiries held on 29th January, 1957, and subsequent days by the late Sheriff Sir Randall Philip, Q.C., and on 4th June, 1957, by Sheriff Harald Leslie, Q.C., and a copy is attached of the report which Sheriff Leslie has now submitted, to which there has been appended a memorandum of undertakings given by the Board. The Secretary of State has carefully considered the Board's applications, the objections to them, the evidence led at the inquiries, the memorandum of undertakings given by the Board, and the report and conclusions and recommendations made by Sheriff Leslie. As a result he has decided that it is in the national interest that the applications should be granted subject to the conditions hereinafter mentioned and to the undertakings given by the Board, in particular to the undertaking relating to the control of radioactive discharges from the station.

Subject to these conditions and undertakings the Secretary of State accordingly gives his consent under section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909, as amended, to the construction of a nuclear generating station in the terms of the Board's application, and grants planning permission for the erection of a nuclear generating station on the above-mentioned site, and for access thereto. He has also decided to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order with modifications. The Order on which his confirmation is shown is returned.

The conditions referred to above are:

  1. (i)that, after consulting the Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland and the Amenity Committee appointed under section 9 of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland)Act, 1943, and before development other than the access roadway is begun, the Board shall submit for the approval of the Secretary of State detailed plans with respect to the precise siting, design and external appearance of all buildings and structures (including the switching compound)which it is proposed to erect:
  2. (ii)that, after consulting the Fisheries Committee appointed under section 9 of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland)Act, 1943, the Board shall provide appropriate screens, the design of which shall be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval, round the intake and outfall of the cooling water system

I am to add that the Secretary of State will be glad if the Board will also give careful consideration to the recommendations on other matters in Sheriff Leslie's report.

Nothing in this letter carries with it any necessary consent or approval to the proposed development that the Board are required to obtain under any statutory enactments other than those referred to in this letter.

The question of expenses incurred in connection with the inquiries is under consideration and a further communication will be addressed to the Board, and to the other parties to the inquiries.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant.

(Sgd.)R. H. LAW.