NUCLEAR POWER (Hansard, 20 November 1979)

§ Mr. Abse
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During the proceedings on Tuesday, the Secretary of State for Energy made a statement on nuclear matters, and I put a number of questions to him, one of which was directed to the proposed atom plant at Portskewett. He replied: The CEGB has informed me that it does not intend to press its application to build an advanced gas-cooled reactor at the Portskewett site."—[Official Report, 18 December 1979; Vol. 976, c. 299.] That statement was received with great relief throughout Wales. Unhappily, immediately after the announcement was made public, the CEGB made a considerable number of statements, all of which flatly contradict what the Secretary of State said. In a press report this morning the CEGB board spokesman said: We are not making any application for an American-type water-cooled reactor at Portskewett but we are pressing ahead with our original application for a gas-cooled reactor. On any view, there is a huge gap between what the House was told and what was said outside. I fully appreciate, Mr. Speaker, that you cannot be held responsible for what the Secretary of State says in this House, but—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I hope that the hon. Member is about to raise a point of order that I can deal with and is not just making a personal statement.

§ Mr. Abse
My point of order is that large numbers of people involved in organising protests at a public inquiry are in confusion because the Secretary of State has misinformed the House. I trust that it is at least possible for me to ask you, Mr. Speaker, to encourage the Secretary of State to make a statement to the House because of the flat contradictions that exist about a project costing £1.5 billion.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member knows that I exercise no discretion over statements made by Ministers. I allowed the hon. Member to make his point to the House, which is what he wanted.

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The statements of the Secretary of State are a matter of concern to the whole House. They are causing considerable embarrassment to hon. Members and many of our constituents—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Member, but I explained earlier that it was not a point of order. Both hon. Members have drawn attention to the anxiety in their area about the matter, and I am quite sure that that will be noted. I am anxious that we should move on to the main business, as there are many hon. Members who want to speak. I hope that the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Hughes) will accept that he has expressed his anxiety and that there is no point of order on which I can help.