§ 86. Mr. McGuireasked the Minister of Power whether he will refuse to approve the Central Electricity Generating Board's applications for nuclear power stations at Heysham in Lancashire and Seaton Carew in Durham on the grounds that his Department do not now expect electricity produced from the first of the atomic gas-cooled reactor stations to be as cheap as that from coal-fired stations now being completed in the coalfields, despite the considerably greater capital cost of the nuclear stations.
§ Mr. MarshThe decisions will be taken on the merits of each case, and on the best current estimates.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt and cost per unit produced based on most recent estimates of the most advanced nuclear power station offered to the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Mr. MarshThe C.E.G.B.'s estimate of the construction cost of Hinkley Point B is £71/kW and of the base load generating cost, including capital charges, is 0.52d./kWh.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt and cost per unit produced based on most recent estimates of the most advanced coal-fired thermal power station offered to the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Mr. MarshThe C.E.G.B.'s estimate of the construction cost of Drax is £52/ kW and of the base-load generating cost, including capital charges, is 0.60d./kWh.
§ Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Power what insurance cover is taken out for nuclear power stations; and if any private insurance company has offered or been given the opportunity to give insurance cover.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Nuclear Installations Act, 1965, requires all nuclear licensees, including the Generating Boards, to provide £5 million cover against third party liability in respect of each licensed site.
79WThe Boards effect this cover by means of insurance polices negotiated with a syndicate of British insurers. Insurance against material damage on the sites themselves is provided in a similar manner.