Nuclear Power Stations (Hansard, 9 January 1978)

§ 21. Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received any proposals in the last 12 months from the Central Electricity Generating Board 1255 for the construction of further nuclear power stations

§ Mr. Benn
In 1977, the CEGB sought approval for a capital investment programme including a nuclear station to begin construction in 1979. Nuclear orders are under discussion in connection with the Government's decision on thermal reactor choice.

§ Mr. Wigley
Can the Secretary of State give any information about any proposals for a further atomic power station in the county of Gwynedd in view of the impact study made by the Gwynedd County Council which named a number of sites, which has caused not only worry from the safety point of view amongst those who fear fast breeder reactors but also planning blight in the areas which have been named as possible sites for further nuclear power stations?

§ Mr. Benn
The hon. Gentleman will know, and I think the House will think it right, that as the Minister dealing with energy matters I am not responsible for planning permission for power stations. Indeed, my view is that it is much better if all these matters, including the handling of waste and other matters with a high environmental interest, are handled independently by another Minister under provisions laid down by Parliament for handling these considerations. I will certainly ensure that the hon. Gentleman's point is put forward, but I cannot answer questions about planning approvals for power stations. I am concerned with the reactor choice, a matter which was referred to in an earlier Question.

§ Mr. Tom King
Since there is general agreement about the urgency of the decision on thermal reactor choice, and since there is disturbing evidence of the Secretary of State's practice of sacking those who disagree with him—starting with the Chief Scientist and now, it is alleged, even threatening his own Under-Secretary—and since it is now alleged that the latest gentleman to disagree with the Secretary of State's views is the Prime Minister, what plans does the Secretary of State have for him?

§ Mr. Benn
The hon. Gentleman systematically fails to rise to the occasion when these matters are under consideration. He must know very well that, far from dismissing my scientific adviser, I 1256 appointed Dr. Walter Marshall to the post of Deputy Chairman—

§ Mr. Tom King
He was already appointed.

§ Mr. Benn
No, I appointed him as Deputy Chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and asked for a full-time scientific adviser. If the hon. Gentleman repeats every bit of tittle-tattle that he can pick up, he will not do justice to the magnitude of these matters. I should add that the question of reactor choice involves a lot of interests and pressures which have to be taken fully into account, but there is no doubt that the demand of the customer—or the customers, if one includes the South of Scotland Electricity Board—is for early orders for the advanced gas cooled reactor. There is no doubt about that. As every bit of information on this is now public, I hope that the House will not be tempted into error by the hon. Gentleman's notions about "Whitehall behind closed doors", which he must have picked up from watching too much television over the Christmas period.