§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will name, list and describe the components and other materials, including liquids and gases, removed from the reactor pressure vessel at Hinkley Point B nuclear power station as a result of the accident on 25 October; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will estimate the approximate volume of water that escaped into the reactor pressure vessel in the accident on 25 October at Hinkley Point B nuclear power station; and what were the times at which this escape of water (a) started and (b) was stopped;
(3) if he will name, list and describe any radioactive substances of any type which were released into the atmosphere as a result of the accident on 25 October at Hinkley Point B nuclear power station, either at the time of the accident or subsequently;
(4) if he will describe how the contaminated water was removed from the reactor pressure vessel at Hinkley Point 279W B nuclear power station following the accident on 25 October, stating whether it was filtered free of radionucledes as it was removed; and what were the levels of radioactivity of this contaminated water (a) before removal an (b) after removal.
§ Mr. GoodladAs my right hon. Friend mentioned in his letter of 15 November to the hon. Member, the boiler tube leak at Hinkley Point B on 25 October was notified to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. Investigations subsequently confirmed that several hundred gallons of water entered the reactor gas coolant circuit. The boiler tube has been permanently plugged and the reactor was returned to power on 10 November. The NII, the Radiochemical Inspectorate and MAFF are satisfied that the radioactivity discharge was well within the authorised limits.
I am asking the CEGB to provide the hon. Member with the detailed information which he requests.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to reply to the letter dated 29 October from the hon. Member for Yeovil, asking for full details of the accident on 25 October at Hinkley Point B nuclear power station.
§ Mr. GoodladMy right hon. Friend replied on 15 November.