§ Mr. Haynesasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the report of the working party set up following the inquest into the two children who died as a result of an accident at Selston electricity substation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladI have received the report and today placed a copy in the Library. The working party recommended three courses of action to reduce the incidence of trespass into substations and the risk of accident to those who do; namely, improved security, improved education and research and development into more sensitive means of detecting mechanical failures. The improved security measures should be directed at substations which are at greatest risk of trespass or vandalism. The working party recommended a capital expenditure programme costing possibly some £10 million, but with an initial field trial designed to assess the effeciveness of such measures. The Electricity Council has accepted the report and has decided to implement the recommended programme, but to dispense with the field trial phase. The Electricity Council will monitor the programme and my Department will keep in close touch with this.