Nuclear Power Stations

HC Deb 12 March 1968 vol 760 cc247-8W

62 and 63. Mr. Kelley

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will make a statement on the details of the slow-down in the nuclear power station building programme.

(2) whether it is still intended that there will be a total capacity of 8,000 megawatts in 1975 from atomic gas-cooled reactor stations.

Mr. Freeson

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Swain) on 26th January, lower load expectations and the need for economy in capital expenditure have slowed down the start of new generating capacity of all types. The figure of 8,000 MW by the mid 1970s was adopted for planning purposes and assumed that on average one station a year would be ordered.

Three stations have been started in the last three years, but when the 8,000 MW of A.G.R. capacity will be achieved will depend on decisions yet to be taken in the light of load forecasts and available capacity.

Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Power what is the machinery in his Department for dealing with safety factors in nuclear power stations.

Mr. Marsh

Commercial nuclear power stations require a licence from the Secretary of State for Scotland or myself. Strict conditions, based on the advice of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee and the Nuclear Inspectorate, are attached to these licences to ensure that such stations are designed, constructed and operated with proper regard for safety. The installations are systematically inspected to ensure that these conditions are observed.

Mr. McGuire

asked the Minister of Power whether he will revise the nuclear power programme now that the estimated cost per unit sent out from Dungeness B nuclear station is higher than the cost for coal-fired stations like Cottam, in view of the fact that the Fuel Policy White Paper assumed that it would be cheaper.

Mr. Marsh

There is no change in the estimates which calls for a revision of the nuclear power programme.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Power what are the latest figures per unit of electricity for the cost of generating electricity by the latest type of nuclear generator, oil and coal, respectively; and what changes in these figures would result from the abolition of import and other duties on oil.

Mr. Freeson

The C.E.G.B.'s estimates of base-load generation cost, including capital charges, for the latest nuclear, oil and coal stations are 0.52d. a unit for Hinkley Point B, 0.58d. for Pembroke and 0.60d. for Drax respectively.

The abolition of duty on oil, if passed on in full to the C.E.G.B., would reduce the estimate for Pembroke by 0.11 pence.