HC Deb 15 April 1957 vol 568 cc1540-1
25. Mr. B. Harrison

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent plans for the switch gear necessary to utilise the electricity generated by the nuclear power station at Bradwell on Sea were submitted at the public inquiry held to decide the siting of this station.

Mr. Renton

No plans either of the proposed nuclear power station or of any switch gear were submitted at the inquiry which took place before tenders had been received.

Mr. Harrison

Does my hon. and learned Friend not think it is a pretty disgraceful state of affairs, because some 17 acres, I believe, are to be occupied by the switch gear and are to be built on beside this station, consequently completely altering the original plans approved by the inquiry?

Mr. Renton

No, I do not think there is anything disgraceful about it. The inquiry was to enable the previous Minister to decide whether there should be a power station at Bradwell, and the switch gear is a separate item connected with transmission.

Mr. Snow

As one of the members of the public who attended the inquiry, may I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman if he is aware that I had correspondence with Sir Anthony Eden about the conduct of the inquiry and that at the inquiry it was promised that there would be no subsidiary industries, yet in addition to that mentioned by the hon. Member a second subsidiary industry is now being planned, and that thus two promises have been broken?

Mr. Renton

I am not aware of that, but that is a quite separate matter.

26. Mr. B. Harrison

asked the Paymaster-General if he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Authority to review its arrangements for co-ordinating the work of those branches of the Authority responsible for providing generating plant and those responsible for distributing electricity.

Mr. Renton

No, Sir. This is an internal matter for the Authority.

Mr. Harrisson

Does not my hon. and learned Friend think it pretty disgraceful that when one gets planning approval for a building like this a subsidiary building has to go up which was not considered in the original planning? It is essential that there should be some co-ordination in the Central Electricity Authority.

Mr. Renton

There is some co-ordination. I do not think there is any strong evidence of lack of it.

Mr. Snow

The hon. and learned Gentleman ought to have been at the inquiry then.