§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many incidents at nuclear power stations and other nuclear installations have been reported to his Department in each year since 1974; and if he will indicate in the Official Report the names of the stations with a brief summary of the nature of each incident;
(2) what is his Department's definition of an incident at a nuclear power station which, under guidelines produced by his Department, should be reported to him.
§ Mr. Norman LamontArrangements exist under which the Secretary of State is notified by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) of incidents at nuclear power stations in England and Wales reported to the Inspectorate in accordance with the following arrangements.
Three kinds of occurrence are reportable to the NII:
307W These categories of occurrences cover all incidents likely to be significant for safety.
- (a) serious incidents as defined in the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations Act 1965 namely:
- any release of radioactivity or toxic substances causing or likely to cause death or serious injury;
- any uncontrolled criticality excursion;
- any explosion or fire likely to affect safety;
- any occurrence during the transport of nuclear matter which is likely to cause death or injury from radioactivity, or the breaking open of a container of nuclear matter.
- (b) under site licence conditions, occurrences involving exposure to radiation above prescribed limits and wherever inspection or testing reveals that the safe operation and condition of plant may be affected.
In addition, from 1977, operators have been asked to report minor incidents of lesser significance, involving unusual occurrences with possible implications for radiation control not already covered by the arrangements described in paragraph 2.
Two occurrences have been reported since 1974 under the Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Act 1965. Both involved the release of carbon choxide, the reactor coolant gas, which is a toxic substance. The first was at Wylfa power station on 8 June 1976, the second at Dungeness power station on 19 October 1976. In neither case did the occurrence result in injury to anybody on, or off, the site.
All incidents at nuclear power stations and other nuclear installations reported from 1977 are described in the Quarterly Summaries of Incidents at Nuclear Installations published by the HSE. Copies of these summaries are available in the Library of the House.
I am arranging to put in the Library a note setting out incidents reported between 1974 and 1977.