§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of the public Exchequer contribution to the cost of decommissioning and reprocessing of the nuclear power stations of(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland under schedule 12 to the Electricity Act.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe way in which schedule 12 will be used will be reviewed in the light of the setting up of separate nuclear companies. However, the company holding the nuclear stations presently owned by the CEGB is expected to have a cash surplus from its first years of operation, and I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the position is expected to be similar there.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) on what date the Government recognised that nuclear power is more costly than power from fossil-fuelled generating stations; and what are the current respective estimated costs;
(2) what was the source of the information that led his Department to recognise that nuclear power was more expensive than power from conventional stations.
§ Mr. Wakeham[holding answer 13 November 1989]: Advice given to me is confidential. However, the CEGB provided evidence to the Hinkley Point inquiry on 6 December 1988 about the comparative costs of a PWR and coal-fired capacity, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of(a) the percentage of electricity generation currently met by nuclear power and (b) the likely percentage in each year to the year 2000.
§ Mr. Wakeham[holding answer 13 November 1989]: According to the CEGB, the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear power in England and Wales in 1988–89 was 17.4. Future levels will depend upon a number of factors which cannot be forecast with precision.
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§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the unprecedented guarantees on the costs of nuclear power stations which were being sought by National Power.
§ Mr. Wakeham[holding answer 13 November 1989]: The details of my negotiations with National Power are confidential. It argued that it should receive extensive protection against financial risks arising from a variety of potential circumstances relating to the construction and operation of stations and to the statutory regime governing them.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy which Magnox nuclear power stations he estimates can have an extended life.
§ Mr. Wakeham[holding answer 13 November 1989]: This will he a matter for the nuclear company. The continuing operation of nuclear power stations has to be licensed by the nuclear installations inspectorate.