§ Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Energy what specific safety regulations he intends to include in the proposed legislation to privatise the electricity supply industry.
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§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe electricity supply industry has an excellent safety record and one of our objectives is to ensure that this record is maintained when the industry is transferred to the private sector. The existing electricity supply regulations which cover public safety are currently being reviewed and updated and will form a sound basis for achieving that objective.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for the future management and continued flexibility of the national grid, subsequent to his planned privatisation of electricity generation.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Government intend to preserve the existing benefits of the national grid and its flexibility of operation, while ensuring that competing generators have fair and equal access to the transmission system, on terms that are not subject to monopoly abuse.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he expects his plans for privatisation of electricity generation to include private ownership of individual, or groups of nuclear power stations; and what plans he has for the future ownership and operation of British Nuclear Fuels plc.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Government intend to bring forward proposals for the privatisation of all the electricity supply industry in due course. There are no plans at present to sell shares in British Nuclear Fuels plc.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made and what sources of information he will publish, concerning the relative performance of the 751W Central Electricity Generating Board since 1957 and that which he expects from its division into competitive components following privatisation.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerNo decision has yet been taken about the future structure of the electricity industry. The CEGB has published annual reports and accounts, giving details of its performance, since it was established in 1957.