§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Energy in which year each of the advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors is now expected to come on stream; and what was the originally predicted date at the time that construction of each reactor was officially authorised.
§ Mr. John SmithThere have been problems with the programme of advanced336W gas-cooled reactors which have set the programme back appreciably. I am informed by the Chairman of the CEGB that the information requested by the hon. Member in respect of its stations is:
Original forecast Current forecast Dungeness 'B' 1971 1977 Hinkley Point 'B' 1973 1975 Hartlepool 1974 1978 Heysham 1976 1978
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects each of the proposed SGHW reactors to be functioning; and what proportion of the total nuclear power programme they will then provide, assuming completion of all the advanced gas-cooled reactors currently under construction by the date by which all the SGHWRs are themselves completed.
§ Mr. John SmithIt is too early to give precise commissioning dates for individual steam generating heavy water reactors (SGHWRs). The total output capacity of Magnox stations in the United Kingdom is 4.1GW and the output capacity now envisaged for the advanced gas-cooled reactors at present under construction is about 6GW, which together with Atomic Energy Authority and British Nuclear Fuels Limited reactors gives a total of about 10.8GW. On the basis of these figures the initial 4.0GW SGHWR programme would therefore represent some 27 per cent. of the resulting total output capacity.