HL Deb 09 March 1971 vol 316 cc7-9
THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider it safe or wise to propose building three deep water ports, a modern steel mill and an oil refinery within 1½ miles of Hunterston "A" nuclear power station in North Ayrshire in view of the fact that planning permission for the power station was only approved on the grounds that it was sited in a sparsely populated area.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has already indicated that all planning applications in the Hunterston area will have to be referred to him. He has asked me to assure this House that he will not consent to any development unless he is satisfied about nuclear safety aspects, including the arrangements for emergency action in the unlikely event of an accident at the power stations.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for her reply, may I ask whether she is aware that an evacuation plan has been in existence since the station began? May I ask her, further, whether she is aware that there is considerable apprehension in the area of explosions in either the oil refinery or the steel mill, or even in a tanker in ballast, which might affect the nuclear reactor? I would further ask my noble friend whether there has been a re-assessment of the danger of this occurring since the public inquiry took place last year?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, the emergency arrangements are still in force. The oil refinery proposal has not yet been approved, and there have not yet been firm applications for any of the other developments which were the subject of the public local inquiry. On a preliminary assessment, however, it was decided that prima facie there was no reason why developments should not take place. In any case, once detailed applications have been put forward they would have to be approved between the developer, the South of Scotland Electricity Board, and finally the Secretary of State and the Nuclear Inspectorate.

LORD HOY

My Lords, in view of the long delay that has taken place with regard to proposed development at Hunterston, and of the fact that at the present time Scotland has 118,000 unemployed, can the noble Baroness tell us when the Government are likely to reach a decision on this project?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, the Question refers to various projects. There have been no firm applications, either for the deep water ports or from the British Steel Corporation. There has been one firm application for the oil refinery. This has been examined by the Nuclear Advisory Safety Committee, who have found that were this refinery to be established it would not be incompatible with nuclear safety. But of course there has been new development since the inquiry, and there has been a circular from the Department of Trade and Industry to all interested parties, and if they so wish, another inquiry will have to take place.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, with great reluctance, I must press my noble friend further on this matter. Is she aware that quite recently the site for a nuclear power station on the Tamar was turned down because it was too close to Plymouth? What seems to be contemplated here is the building of a small "Plymouth" round a power station. Does my noble friend really believe that this is either safe or wise?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, as I said earlier, the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee had specifically examined the proposals for the oil refinery. Furthermore, at the local inquiry there was a statement from the Nuclear Inspectorate about the various factors which would have to be taken into account in any industrial development. These factors still stand, and it cannot be taken for granted that any industrial development will be approved without the procedure which I have already described to your Lordships.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, if it is agreed that this really is safe, may I ask my noble friend to give an assurance that it will be given wide publicity, in order to allay the considerable local apprehension about what is going on at the moment?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

Yes, my Lords, I can certainly give that assurance.