§ Mr. John Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate are involved in the pre-commission manufacturing of the Torness power station; and if he will make a statement on the implications of under-staffing in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on this project.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherI am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has some 12 inspectors involved in the pre-construction safety study 171W for Torness power station and for the Central Electricity Generating Board's Heysham stage II power station which are of essentially the same design. This study includes any necessary inspection of items under manufacture. The inspectorate is below full strength but has so arranged its work that the necessary resources can be devoted to this study.