§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the procedure for obtaining advice from the Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations on the safety of American light water reactors before any application is made for licensing such a reactor.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations advises my right hon. Friend on all safety matters as circumstances require and in particular he is required to advise on safety before the grant of a nuclear site licence for any reactor. I am satisfied with this procedure.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, having regard to the limited staff available to the nuclear installations inspectorate and the lack of experience with American light water reactors, what action he is taking to obtain an assessment of the safety standards of these reactors, independent of the American Atomic Energy Commission.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Nuclear Inspectorate has adequate resources to advise on the safety of any reactor system before the grant of a nuclear site licence.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will establish an independent commission to examine nuclear power plant policy taking evidence in public and publishing its report to Parliament, before any decision is taken to order American light water reactors.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanNo.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies have been carried out by his Department into the safety of emergency core cooling systems used in American light water reactors; where such studies were undertaken; and if he will publish the findings in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations is aware of the various studies that have been made on the safety of light water reactors including emergency core cool-350W ing systems. The information obtained by the inspectorate is confidential, and therefore could not be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, having regard to the safety dangers associated with American light water reactors and the decision to place a moratorium on any further use of such reactors in other European countries, if he will ensure that the CEGB does not order such nuclear power plant.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanI am not aware of any decision to place a moratorium on the further use of American light water reactors in other European countries. In this country no decision has yet been made on the next type of reactor to be ordered but my right hon. Friend would not license any reactor system unless he was satisfied about its safety.