HC Deb 18 December 1989 vol 164 cc112-3W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels Limited about feasibility studies of replacement for the Chapelcross and Calder Hall power stations.

Mr. Wakeham

I meet the Chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc regularly and discuss a range of matters concerning the company. The feasibility study was one of the matters touched upon at my last meeting on 16 November.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to lift the requirement for his consent to be given before any nuclear power station is built in any county in Britain.

Mr. Wakeham

I shall bring into force in due course section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 under which my consent will be necessary before any power station, nuclear or otherwise, of a capacity greater than 50MW, can be constructed in England and Wales. Smaller stations will be subject to the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Acts.

In addition, a licence to install and operate a nuclear reactor must be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

The construction of power stations in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will direct British Nuclear Fuels Limited to publish details of the feasibility studies it is conducting into replacements for the Chapelcross and Calder Hall power stations.

Mr. Wakeham

The feasibility study is a commercial document and publication will be a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.