§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost of the nuclear power programme already approved or planned; and what is the planned expenditure on the development of new sources of energy.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI expect to make a statement shortly on the nuclear programme.
The CEGB estimates the cost of constructing the Heysham II AGR with a capacity of 1,320 MW to be £900-£1,000 million. The AGR at Torness is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
On the basis of an updating of the NPC's thermal reactor assessment the CEGB also estimates the cost of a PWR 292W of 2,200 MW capacity to be £1,500 million, this capacity having been chosen only for the purposes of economic assessment.
In 1979–80 my Department expects to spend about £7 million on alternative energy sources and the UKAEA expects to spend £16 million on nuclear fusion R and D, including expenditure on the Joint European Torus.
All figures are at 1979 prices.