Hinkley Point: Pre-construction Work (Hansard, 17 October 1989)

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, I am informed that the Central Electricity Generating Board has not undertaken any pre-construction work on the Hinkley Point site. However, site investigations involving bore-hole drilling have been carried out, with the necessary consents and with the knowledge of the local planning authority, in order to provide information for the detailed design of the proposed power station structures and the cooling water outlet.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, is it the case that construction work is presently in operation on the building of a new road around Coombwick Wharfe which will be used both for the building of the new Hinkley C Point reactor and for the decommissioning of the Magnox and AGR stations already in existence? If that is right, is it not degrading and debasing the value of public inquiries?

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, the CEGB has commissioned confirmatory site investigations consisting of the sinking of bore holes to enable tests to be carried out associated with the design and hydrographic survey in the area of the cooling water intake tunnel and outfall culvert. The work was commissioned in August and is now almost complete.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, is the Minister aware that there is grave concern about the CEGB and its activities in relation to nuclear methods? Is he also aware that in relation to Sizewell B the CEGB spent hundreds of millions of pounds on ordering equipment before the inquiry reported? Is not something similar occurring in relation to the site investigations? Can he assure the House and the country that again the CEGB is not jumping the gun by anticipating that it will receive permission and ordering goods worth hundreds of millions of pounds of public money?

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, I understand that the board has placed contracts for some long lead items of equipment. The CEGB has placed orders for forgings for the reactor pressure vessel in advance of Section 2 consent in order to ensure that the equipment is available on site at the appropriate time during the construction programme. The CEGB's evidence to the Hinkley inquiry identified the need for the early ordering of equipment and on day 12 the inquiry was informed of the proposed orders.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, I congratulate the noble Viscount on his first appearance at the Dispatch Box. We on this side of the House are happy that he will be in the position of answering all the questions that we shall ask about electricity privatisation as they arise. As this is his first Question and we are all great friends, could the noble Viscount tell the House how far the Hinkley inquiry is going to be extended given the news of the Sizewell B cost overruns which has caused a two-month extension? Are the further cost overruns which are possible at Sizewell, the amount of which National Power spokesmen have said they have no idea of, going to lead to further extensions of the Hinkley Point inquiry or shall we see a terminal date which the noble Viscount can perhaps give us?

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, the inquiry was adjourned by the inspector on 27th September to enable objectors time to consider evidence presented to the inquiry by the CEGB. The inspector will reconvene the inquiry on 7th November to allow the objectors time to cross-examine the CEGB witness.

§ The Earl of Lauderdale
My Lords, we on this side welcome the noble Viscount's appearance at the Dispatch Box but warn him that it is very difficult terrain. However, from the bottom of our hearts we wish him the best of British luck.

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his kind words and I regret that I failed to thank the noble Lord for his kind words. I do that now.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, may I add a few more kind words and they are words of sympathy to the noble Viscount on being thrown in at the deep end on an issue which we have spent many years debating. However, I must remind him that he has not answered my first Question. Is it the case that a new road is being built around Coombwick Wharfe, because the people of Coombwick are very concerned about this matter? Is that road for the purpose of building the new reactor and for conveying the radioactive materials on the de-commissioning of the present reactors? If that is the case, would he state categorically on behalf of the Government that no decision will be taken, whether it is on Hinkley Point, Sizewell or Wylfa, until the inspector's report has been received? Otherwise the whole concept of having a public inquiry is debased.

§ Viscount Ullswater
My Lords, the inspector has received evidence on all terms of the building of this power station. The Secretary of State will need to consider the inspector's report very carefully but will announce his decision as soon as he can.