HC Deb 22 April 1975 vol 890 cc289-90W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when construction is to be started on the building of the SGHWR station at Sizewell; and what time has been allocated for completion.

Mr. Eadie

These are matters for the National Nuclear Corporation and the Central Electricity Generating Board to decide. At this stage in the design and development programme, they do not wish to commit themselves to specific dates.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many alterations to design specifications have been requested to fit the Winfrith Heath SGHWR prototype into a commercial power plant at Sizewell.

Mr. Eadie

The National Nuclear Corporation is currently agreeing the reference design for the 660-MW reactor with the electricity boards, including a number of changes from the Winfrith design, to reflect in particular improvements in technology and operating procedures since then.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when proposals for the second SGHWR power station are likely to be approved.

Mr. Eadie

Consents under the Electric Lighting Act 1909 have been given for SGHWRs at Sizewell and Torness. The initial programme of up to 4000 MW of SGHWR will be made up of four reactor units at Sizewell and two at Torness. Further orders would be possible from the later 1970s, given satisfactory experience with the initial programme, as was indicated in Command 5695.