§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all parts of the discharge authorisation for Hunterston nuclear power station have been met over each year, with particular reference to the sections on routes and monitoring.
§ Mr. AncramThe provisions in the authorisation relating to discharges have been complied with since the Station was commissioned, except for three minor occurrences in 1978, 1979 and this year, when failures in the discharge pipeline led to the release of small quantities of low-level liquid effluent other than in accordance with the terms of the authorisation. The events of 1978 and 1979 were included in the quarterly statement on nuclear incidents published by the Health and Safety Executive, copies of which are in the Library. The investigation into the most recent occurrence has just been completed and the results will be included in the statement in due course.
417W
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the discharge authorisation for Hunterston nuclear power station in the Library.
§ Mr. AncramYes.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether all aspects of Hunterston B power station are currently intact; what checks have been made recently; and if it satisfies all safety requirements.
§ Mr. Allan StewartAll systems at Hunterston B are operating safely in compliance with the conditions attached to the nuclear site licence and within the limitations and conditions of the authorisations controlling the disposal of radioactive wastes.
The continued safety of the station depends on, among other things, the operators' implementation of routine programmes of testing, inspection and monitoring of plant. Any defects are repaired in accordance with the requirements of the nuclear site licence.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which recommendations in the plant modification procedure for Hunterston power station following the sea water ingress have been accepted and implemented; and which have not.
§ Mr. Allan StewartI understand from the South of Scotland Electricity Board that all recommendations contained in the board of inquiry report concerning the ingress of sea water to Hunterston R4 reactor have been implemented.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what directions he has given in relation to radioactive discharges from Hunterston in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. AncramNo directions have been made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 during the period in question.