§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether any connection has been established between the malfunction of Hinkley Point B advanced gas-cooled reactor in June 1977 and Hunterston B advanced gas-cooled reactor in October 1977, both involving the sea water supply system; what information was passed on to the Hunterston control engineers following the Hinkley accident; and what advice concerning control, maintenance, or additional cooling systems has been given to the design engineers at Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham arising from the malfunctioning of the advanced gas-cooled reactor system in the two cases;
(2) if he will set up a special joint inquiry to investigate the malfunctioning 25W of the Hinkley Point B reactor in June 1977 and the Hunterston B reactor in October 1977, with a view to making design changes in the Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham reactors.
§ Mr. EadieThe causes of the two incidents at Hinkley Point B station in June 1977 and at Hunterston B—which is operated by the South of Scotland Electricity Board and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland—in October 1977 were not related. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave to him on 15th December 1977 about the Hunterston B incident and to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) on 2nd February about Hinkley Point B. I am advised that both incidents have been thoroughly investigated and remedial action has been taken or is in hand. Joint consideration of these two different incidents would not be appropriate.
I am informed by the CEGB that there is close co-operation between it and the SSEB on matters such as the design and operation of nuclear stations and have been assured that information and advice on the incidents mentioned by the hon. Member were communicated formally and informally as a matter of course between the two Boards. The AGR stations at Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham will be provided with permanent back-up cooling water supplies.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy how long the Hinkley Point B reactor has been out of action following the accident with the sea water system in June 1977; and when it is likely to become operational again.
§ Mr. EadieI am advised by the CEGB that the clearing up, repairs and testing in the cooling water pump house were completed in two weeks. This work was merged into a planned reactor shut down for routine inspection and certain time consuming modification work, which prevented a return to power until December 1977.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the approximate cost of making good the 26W damage to the Hinkley Point B reactor following the accident in June 1977.
§ Mr. EadieThere was no damage to the reactors in the incident referred to. The cost of the remedial work in the pump house was approximately £2,500.