§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen)Official Report, 26 January, column 716, whether the spent nuclear fuel cooling ponds at Chapelcross are built to the same structural standards as the nuclear power plant; and whether the site licences take into account air crash potential on spent nuclear fuel cooling ponds.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 9 February 1989]: The spent nuclear fuel cooling ponds at Chapelcross are an integral part of the nuclear power station and are built to the same structural standards. The ponds themselves have a robust construction, are partially below ground and therefore have a degree of internal strength.
The nuclear site licences cover the whole plant including the spent fuel cooling ponds as well as the reactors 588W themselves. All aspects of safety including potential air crashes are considered by the nuclear installations inspectorate in the granting of licences to operators of nuclear plant.
The safety considerations applying to the cooling ponds are therefore the same as those outlined in my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen).