HC Deb 17 February 1958 vol 582 cc107-8W
Mr. Nabarro

asked the Paymaster-General, having regard to the proposal of the Central Electricity Authority to erect a nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd in the Snowdonia National Park, all of which is to be the subject of a public inquiry at Trawsfynydd on 12th February, 1958, whether he will state the size and capacity of the proposed station; to what extent it is to be associated with further pump-storage proposals in North Wales; and what approach has been made to date by the Central Electricity Authority to the Minister of Power for permission to bring a Bill to Parliament for the purposes referred to.

Sir I. Horobin

My noble Friend has received an application under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909, as amended, for consent to the construction of a nuclear power station of 400–500 megawatts capacity which would be linked with the pumped storage scheme under construction at Blaenau Ffestiniog. There are no further proposals for pumped-storage schemes in North Wales. As the application is made under an existing Statute, there is no occasion for a Bill to be brought to Parliament.

Mr. Nabarro

asked the Paymaster-General, having regard to the over-riding position of amenity and access in areas designated national parks under the Act, whether he will place in the Palace of Westminster a scale model of the proposed Trawsfynydd nuclear power station and any pump-storage works associated with it together with topographical reproduction to scale of such features as Rhinog Fach, Rhinog Fawr, Moel yr Mydd, Alit fawr, Cae'r dda, Moel Siabod, Moel Penamnen, Moel Farlwyd, Manod bach, Manod mawr, thus enabling Members of both Houses of Parliament to consider amenity and scenic matters.

Sir I. Horobin

It is not possible at this stage for the Generating Board to make a scale model of the station that will be built on this site if it secures the consent of my noble Friend for the project. The actual design and lay out of the station will not be determined until the board has awarded the contract and has consulted a number of expert bodies and advisers including the board's consulting architect for Wales, a landscape consultant, the County Council and the Royal Fine Art Commission.