§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions and for how long each of the present nuclear power plants has been shut down since it began to generate electricity, and whether they will state the causes of the shut-downs, e.g. design faults, construction faults, equipment failures and human errors; and whether the experimental reactors have had a better or worse record as regards shut-downs.
The Earl of GOWRIEDetails of nuclear reactor shut-downs in the United Kingdom have been given annually since 1970 in the IAEA publication:Operating Experience with Nuclear Power Stations in Member States. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.
I am asking the chairmen of the CEGB, SSEB, and the UKAEA to write to the noble Lord in respect of reactor shutdowns before 1970 and the record of experimental reactors.