HC Deb 24 November 1986 vol 106 cc7-9
7. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to publish the Sizewell B inspector's report.

10. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he plans to publish the findings of the public inquiry into the proposed PWR nuclear reactor station at Sizewell B, in Suffolk.

Mr. Peter Walker

The inspector now intends to deliver his report to me at the end of this month or in early December. I shall decide on the publication date when I have seen and considered it.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I thank my right hon. Friend for that encouraging reply. Will he initiate an urgent debate on this subject in order to end the highly unsatisfactory situation whereby Britain's entire energy policy has been held up by a local planning inquiry for more than four years?

Mr. Walker

Yes. I think that the four-year delay in making any decisions has been a sad feature of holding such a full inquiry. We must carefully consider the results of that inquiry, but then, as my hon. Friend said, we must reach decisions as quickly as possible.

Mr. Simon Hughes

As the Government are so keen to privatise the energy supply industry, what does the right hon. Gentleman believe to be the view of the private sector and the City towards privatising the pressurised water reactor at Sizewell, or reactors anywhere else? Is not the reality that if the Government offered that PWR to the private sector without any public money there would be no economic case, and such privatisation would be seen to be a bad part of the Government's economic and energy strategy?

Mr. Walker

I had not considered offering a PWR to the City, but I shall carefully consider the hon. Gentleman's views and see whether that is a possibility.

Mr. Speller

May I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer? Does he agree that the British public are probably split about 50–50 on the desirability of continuing with the nuclear industry? Will he undertake to arrange for a debate to be held in the House before an answer is reached?

Mr. Walker

As I have said, I wish to consider the report before making up my mind on these matters.

Mr. Conlan

Does the Secretary of State realise that the long delay in publishing the report has created havoc in the industry? Is it not now imperative that he makes an early decision? Until that decision is made, the industry's major procurement decisions will be delayed. Many firms are finding it extremely difficult to cater for that.

Mr. Walker

I well recognise that several industries, particularly in the north of England, are concerned about the delays. However, it was right that the inspector should take such care to prepare the report, and there was obviously no way in which I could hasten it. All the services that he required were offered and provided. It has been a matter of regret to me that we have had to wait so long before making any decisions. I also agree that once the report is received decisions will have to be made quickly.

Mr. Beith

Does the Secretary of State intend to deprive residents of areas where other PWRs are planned, such as Druridge Bay, of their full rights of objection if the CEGB proceeds with other PWR proposals?

Mr. Walker

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Mr. Chapman

Does my right hon. Friend agree that those concerned about the safety of a nuclear reactor at Sizewell B should be more concerned about the safety standards of the 140 foreign civil nuclear power reactors that are within 500 miles of Britain? If those reactors were up to the standards of the British civil nuclear power organisation the country might then be reassured, but that patently was not the case at Chernobyl.

Mr. Walker

The initiatives taken by Britain and western Europe in general to ensure that better safety standards prevail in eastern Europe are of considerable importance. In comparison with all the various forms of energy industry, none has had a better safety record in the European Community for the past 25 years than the nuclear power industry.

Mr. Orme

Will the Secretary of State explain more fully how he will deal with the report? Will he publish it as soon as he receives it, so that the House and the country can see it? As he knows, its publication has been delayed and delayed. He promised the report in September and now, in November, he is talking about December. The country urgently needs to see that report, and we should have a debate before the Government take any decision.

Mr. Walker

I wish to see the report before I decide on these matters.