§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the fact that the proposed pressurised water reactors at Sizewell B and Hinkley C will be the first to depend for their reactor safety solely on computer systems(a) what assessment he has made of the safety implications of and (b) what discussions he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board about the advisability of relying solely on these computer systems; and if he has any plans to extend the new defence standard (Defstan 00–55) to those reactors.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Sizewell B and the Hinkley Point C pressurised water reactors (PWRs) will have a computer based primary protection system designed to protect against all faults, and a non-computerised secondary system which will provide protection against the less unlikely faults. Both systems are at the design and development stage. The approval of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate will be required before the reactors are allowed to operate. The Ministry of Defence computer software standard "Defstan 00–55" is still in the process of development. It is for the Central Electricity Generating Board to decide if it wishes to use this standard. Its decision would be considered by the Nil as part of the safety case.