HC Deb 27 July 1977 vol 936 cc363-4W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an inquiry to consider the implications involved in the construction and operation of a commercial fast breeder reactor immediately after the decisions arising from the Windscale inquiry are made; and if he will make those arrangements for which his Department is responsible to allow this fast breeder inquiry to commence without any delay.

Mr. Shore

There are standing procedures for public inquiries to be held, where appropriate, into specific projects. I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy how best to implement the Government's undertaking set out in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 6820) to settle and announce, before any decision is taken on a full-scale demonstration reactor, a special procedure to provide a framework for wider public debate.