§ VISCOUNT THURSOasked Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make about the results of the recent study by scientists at Harwell of accident hazards at the new atom power plant being built at Dounreay, in particular, in the event of a failure of the cooling system.
§ THE MINISTER OF POWER (LORD MILLS)The possibility of failure of the cooling system has been one of the fundamental considerations taken into account in designing the fast reactor at Dounreay. The design provides that if cooling were to fail and the fuel melted, the molten fuel would be conducted safely away from the reactor core. The Atomic Energy Authority have studied the worst conditions which could arise from such a failure, and are satisfied that there could not be an uncontrolled nuclear reaction. All dangerous material can be adequately contained within the steel pressure sphere surrounding the reactor.
The recent work at Harwell to which the Question refers is directed towards the behaviour of a melting core in order to achieve greater freedom in core design while continuing to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity of the reactor.
House adjourned at one minute past five o'clock.