§ 46. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the delays in the construction of the Dungeness B nuclear power station and the consequent effect on costs, he will now set up an independent inquiry into nuclear power costs.
§ Mr. MasonThe Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board assures me that, as explained in an earlier reply today to my hon. Friend, the recent mechanical engineering difficulties at Dungeness B are specific to that station and have no implications for the other advanced gas-cooled reactor stations. Consequently, the difficulties there do not provide any new reason for an outside inquiry into generating costs generally, on which I gave my views in my letter to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, published in December as House of Commons paper No. 40.
§ 49. Mr. Swainasked the Minister of Power whether he will refuse to authorise the construction of any more nuclear power stations until the B station at West Burton has been built on the site adjoining the existing coal-fired station.
§ Mr. MasonI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) on 4th February.—[Vol. 777, c.55.]
§ 57. Mr. Kelleyasked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the contribution per kilowatt accruing to the construction cost of Drax No. 2 arising from facilities already provided and which are able to be shared with Drax No. 1.
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§ Mr. FreesonDetailed estimates of the cost of a power station under construction are a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Power who will bear the extra costs of the Dungeness B nuclear power station arising from the delays in its construction.
§ Mr. FreesonThis is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board and its contractors.