HC Deb 16 November 1989 vol 160 cc476-8W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what consultation he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding the management of the nuclear power stations subsequent to vesting day for the electricity supply industry;

(2) what consultations he had had with the chairman-designate of National Power for the management subsequent to vesting day of the Sizewell B (a) construction project and (b) nuclear power station;

(3) what consultations he has had with the chairman-designate of PowerGen regarding agency arrangements for the management of the nuclear power stations of (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain after vesting day under the Electricity Act;

(4) what consultations he has had with the chairman-designate of National Power about the management structure of the nuclear power stations of (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain as a whole after vesting day under the Electricity Act;

(5) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding agency arrangements for the management of the nuclear power stations of (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain as a whole subsequent to vesting day under the Electricity Act;

(6) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding the future chairmanship of the board responsible for the management of the nuclear power stations of (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain after vesting day under the Electricity Act;

(7) what consultations he has had with the chief executive of the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding the future (a) ownership and (b) management of the proposed Hinkley Point C pressurised water reactor nuclear power station subsequent to vesting day under the terms of the Electricity Act;

(8) what consultations he has had with the chairmen of (a) British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority regarding the future management and ownership of the nuclear power stations of (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland;

(9) what consultations he has had with the staff of the nuclear power stations about their future management after vesting day of the electricity supply industry;

(10) what proposals he has for the future management of the Sizewell B (a) construction project and (b) power station;

(11) what proposals he has for the management of the nuclear power stations of England and Wales after vesting day in the electricity supply industry.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made to the House on 9 November at column 1175. My right hon. Friend and I have held discussions on the issues with the chairmen of National Power and the Central Electricity Generating Board, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, and with representatives of the staff.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the number of pressurised water reactor nuclear power stations to be constructed in England and Wales starting before the year 2000.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House of 9 November at column 1175.

Mr. John Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy at which nuclear power station sites there have been site emergency plan exercises over the past 10 years; when these exercises took place; what level of exercise they were designated; whether reports of the exercises are available; which exercises tested the concept of extendability; which non-electricity board organisations were involved; whether members of the public were involved in or notified of the exercises; and which nuclear power station sites are due to have their site emergency plans exercised in the next three years.

Mr. Michael Spicer

United Kingdom nuclear power stations have exercised their site emergency plans every year since the station started operations.

These exercises are now classified at three levels: level 1, which comprises annual tests at each site of on-site emergency arrangements and emergency services; level 2, held every two or three years at each site, which also test the off-site arrangements and involve the local authorities and emergency services, regulatory bodies and Government Departments; or level 3, when one of the level 2 exercises is raised to national or level 3 status, and which involves full participation of local organisations, police, emergency services and central Government Departments. These exercises are witnessed by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate (HMNII) and appropriate reports are made available to relevant parties.

Many of these exercises, at level 2 and 3, are based on an assumed radioactive release going significantly beyond that which could arise from the reference accident (i.e. the accident which although unlikely, has the greatest off-site consequences that can be reasonably predicted, given the design of plant, its protective systems and its operating limits). Generally level 2 and level 3 exercises involve the participation of external organisations which include HMNII, the National Radiological Protection Board, Government Departments, local authorities, health authorities, the police and emergency services. There has been some limited public participation in some of these exercises. Local community liaison councils are made aware of both the programme and the outcome of exercises. For the future, each site will hold at least a level 1 exercise annually, with higher-level exercises continuing to take place with the same frequency as at present.

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