§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what national plan he has for dealing with a Chernobyl type accident in Britain.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Chernobyl accident occurred because of a combination of design weaknesses in the reactor system, as the Russians themselves acknowledged, and deliberate failures of staff to observe prescribed safety procedures. The Chernoblyl reactor was of a completely different design from any operating in, or proposed for, the United Kingdom.
The precautions taken in the design and construction of nuclear installations in this country, and the very high standards applied in operating and maintaining them, 595W make it highly unlikely that accidents will occur which might significantly affect the public. But, however remote that possibility, Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate requires, as a condition of its site licences, that emergency plans are prepared and tested regularly in exercises. The Health and Safety Executive believes that a balance needs to be struck between detailed plans that are sufficiently extensive to cope with a serious accident and the unjustified use of resources involved in planning for improbable accidents.