HC Deb 05 March 1957 vol 566 cc184-90
The Paymaster-General (Mr. Reginald Maudling)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a statement about nuclear power.

The Government, in conjunction with the English and Scottish Electricity Authorities and the Atomic Energy Authority, have now completed their reexamination of the nuclear power programme outlined in the White Paper of February, 1955, which set a target of about 1,500–2,000 MW of nuclear capacity in operation in the country by the end of 1965. Since we already spend about £250 million per annum on importing fuel, chiefly oil, and this burden on our balance of payments will continue to grow, the importance of our need to develop nuclear power as a source of energy cannot be in doubt. Our task has, therefore, been to consider the extent to which the 1955 programme can be accelerated in view of technical advances within the last two years.

It is the considered opinion of our expert advisers that in the light of present knowledge the English and Scottish Electricity Authorities can reasonably aim at having at least 5,000 MW of nuclear capacity in operation by the end of 1965, and that if technological development continues to be favourable and the necessary physical and financial resources can be found, a figure of 6,000 MW could be achieved by that date.

The Government have accordingly decided, with the full agreement of the Electricity Authorities and the Atomic Energy Authority, to adopt as the basis for present planning a range of 5,0006,000 MW of nuclear capacity in operation by the end of 1965. This means that the supply of raw materials for nuclear generation, the acquisition of sites and the planning of the transmission network will be on a scale sufficient to bring 6,000 MW of nuclear capacity into operation by the end of 1965. The actual amount of nuclear capacity to be installed by that date will be subject to technical experience and development as planning progresses, including the trend of capital costs, and to the availability of physical and financial resources.

I am authorised to say that the Government of Northern Ireland are today announcing that the Electricity Board for Northern Ireland intend, at the instance of the Government, to bring into commission a 150 MW nuclear station in 1963 or 1964.

The execution of this nuclear programme would make a major contribution to our energy resources: a full year's operation of 6,000 MW generating capacity would save about 18 million tons of coal, or its equivalent. But it would also mean a large increase in the annual investment programme of the Electricity Authorities during the early 'sixties and this would represent a very heavy burden on the nation's capital resources during a period when those resources are likely, in any event, to be seriously strained.

The programme will, moreover, involve the erection of new power stations and of overhead transmission lines in parts of the country which have not hitherto felt the impact of the nation's requirements for electricity. This is, unfortunately, inevitable because nuclear stations raised special siting problems. Her Majesty's Government and the Electricity Authorities are determined to carry through the programme with the least possible interference with the amenities of our countryside or with the rights of individuals. But we believe that this can be done and, at the same time, some provision can be made for that acceleration of the present procedure which is essential if the programme is not to be seriously delayed. I shall accordingly be tabling amendments to existing legislation for inclusion in the Electricity Bill which is at present being considered in Standing Committee.

I would only add that nothing said about the prospects of the nuclear power programme in any way affects the importance of the coal industry. However rapidly we develop nuclear energy, coal will remain the basis of our economy and the need to exploit to the full our national coal resources remains as urgent as ever.

Mr. Robens

I am sure that the House will join with me in welcoming the right hon. Gentleman's statement that the nuclear power programme is to be extended to three times that which was forecast in February, 1955. We are glad that the Government have found it possible to rely less on outside fuels and more on indigenous fuels than was at first thought possible. Can the Minister tell us what are the financial implications of all this? Is it proposed to issue a White Paper, giving in much greater detail the particulars in relation to this programme? In view of the warning that this programme can be carried out only if we have the technical people, the experience and the capital necessary for the programme, can he say whether these are likely to be forthcoming?

In addition to saving the equivalent of 18 million tons of coal by this programme, do the Government intend to do something just as drastic as this, to prevent undue reliance upon the import of oil, in relation to the conservation of our present coal supplies? Could the right hon. Gentleman embody in such a White Paper as I have suggested a good many more details which, obviously, a statement such as he has made could not present to the House?

Mr. Maudling

My noble Friend does not intend to issue a White Paper at this stage, because the nuclear energy programme is a flexible programme and he does not think it appropriate to issue a White Paper every time there is a change. Nevertheless, I am sure that he will pay attention to the right hon. Gentleman's suggestions about a White Paper on the broader fuel aspects.

I think that I can best explain the financial position in this way: the additional cost of having this nuclear programme compared with having a purely conventional power station programme will have amounted to between £700 million and £800 million by 1965. We are satisfied, to the best of our ability, that the technical resources will be available to carry out this programme to the full.

The right hon. Gentleman's final point concerned other means of conserving our coal resources. I entirely agree with him about the very great importance and urgency of doing all we can in that direction.

Mr. Robens

May I press the right hon. Gentleman about the issue of a White Paper, so that he may press the point upon his noble Friend, whom we have not an opportunity of questioning in the House? While it is reasonable to expect that any nuclear programme must be flexible because of the advance in technical knowledge over the years, to increase it to three times the original programme is a new programme, not so much the flexibility of the old one. In my view a White Paper is extremely desirable.

Mr. Maudling

I will certainly convey that suggestion to my noble Friend.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the great satisfaction with which the statement will be greeted in the country arises not only from the trebling of the programme? That is very important, but it also arises from the fact that it necessarily carries with it the expansion of certain key parts of our economy in relation to atomic power, such as the manufacture of nuclear graphite, the preparation of uranium and the fabrication of the special steels, which will make it possible to have a still further expansion of the programme much quicker than otherwise would have been possible.

Mr. Maudling

This programme is an essential part of the process of exploiting the very fine position in nuclear power which the country has achieved.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his noble Friend to consider the problem of the conservation of that power which might go to waste unless pump storage and conservation of electricity overnight is arranged? Will he advance research in connection with the use of hydro-electric power for making use of the surplus atomic energy power which cannot be used through the night?

Mr. Maudling

The question of, pump storage in relation to the base-load problem is very much in our minds.

Mr. Gower

In view of my right hon. Friend's reference to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, may I ask him whether there have been any consultations with the Minister for Welsh Affairs, whether any of these developments will be in Wales in future and, if so, where and when?

Mr. Maudling

If a suitable site can be found, at least one of these stations will be in Wales. [HON. MEMBERS: "Carmarthen."] My right hon. Friend the Minister for Welsh Affairs is keeping a very close eye on this.

Mr. Warbey

Can the Minister say whether the expanded programme is based entirely on the Calder Hall type of reactor, or whether it envisages more advanced types? Can he also give an estimate of the unit cost of the output of electricity compared with that from conventional stations?

Mr. Maudling

As far as we can see, in the present state of knowledge, all the stations in this programme will be of the Calder Hall basic type, though with considerable improvements and modifications. On the question of cost, we have no reason to depart from the estimate which we gave in the White Paper in 1955.

Mr. D. Price

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that if we are to meet our 1965 expected demands for energy, in spite of this increased programme we shall still need to import double last year's oil imports?

Mr. Maudling

I should not like to give an exact figure, but it is certainly true that even with this programme and with an expanded production of coal, which we all hope to see, we shall also need to expand our imports of oil for several years to come.

Mr. Hobson

Can the Minister say whether, from these potential nuclear power stations, it is intended to feed into the standard high tension network or whether it is proposed to set up their own network at a lower voltage for the purpose of rural electrification?

Mr. Maudling

The intention of the Central Electricity Authority would be to feed this power into the main network.

Mr. Nabarro

Could my right hon. Friend confirm two further points: first, that even the trebled atomic energy programme will yield in 1965 only 6 per cent. of the nation's total forecasted energy needs; and, secondly, that pari passu with this trebled programme, over the next eight years it will still be necessary for investment at the rate of approximately £200 million per annum to continue in the Central Electricity Authority for conventional power stations?

Mr. Maudling

As far as I know, my hon. Friend's statistics are about as accurate as his Latin pronunciation. [Laughter.]

Mr. Palmer

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The House should allow the hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) to ask his question.

Mr. Palmer

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the success of this programme depends just as much on human as on material factors? What special steps are the Government taking to ensure the supply of the necessary trained technologists and to see that they are paid properly?

Mr. Maudling

I think that the recruitment of people for this programme lies very much in the hands of the Central Electricity Authority and the Atomic Energy Authority, but the proposals of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education for technical education generally are also very relevant.

Mr. S. O. Davies

On a point of order. In view of the grossly unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, and his deliberate affront to the people of Wales, I hope that I shall have time to express the indignation which we feel on this matter. I beg to give notice that I, and probably my colleagues from Wales, will raise this matter at the first opportunity in order to express our indignation.

Forward to