HC Deb 30 November 1989 vol 162 cc401-3W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of Monday 27 November to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, how many disruptive failures of 11KV switchgear occurred in 1979 and each succeeding year.

Mr. Wakeham

It is not readily possible to provide annual statistics of the specific type and nature requested by the hon. Member for a period as long as 10 years. The number of incidents involving the disruptive failure of 11KV switchgear which have been notified to my Department since 1987, for the specific reporting periods indicated, are as follows:

Number
April 1987 to March 1988 29
April 1988 to March 1989 4
April 1989 to date 25

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many incidents in area electricity boards involving 11KV switchgear which would have given rise to injury, death, fire or explosion occurred in 1979 and each succeeding year.

Mr. Wakeham

It is not readily possible to provide annual statistics of the specific type and nature requested by the hon. Member for a period as long as 10 years. The number of incidents, however, notified to my Department since 1987 involving 11KV switchgear, which could have given rise to injury, death, fire or explosion, for the specific reporting periods indicated, are as follows:

Number
April 1987 to March 1988 9
April 1988 to March 1989 40
April 1989 to date 34

1987–8S 1988–89 1989 to date
Number of fatalities (public) 0 0 0
Number of fatalities (electricity supply industry) 2 0 n/a
Number of injuries (public) 0 0 2
Number of injuries (electricity supply industry) 2 2 n/a

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what investigations the engineering inspectorate of his Department carried out on 11KV switchgear in 1979 and each succeeding year.

Mr. Wakeham

The engineering inspectorate has carried out an average of eight investigations per annum since 1979 into incidents involving assets of the electricity supply industry and injury or fatality to members of the public. Only one of the investigations in this period has specifically involved 11KV switchgear. Incidents involving employees of the industry or their contractors while at work are investigated by the Health and Safety Executive. The engineering inspectorate, however, carries out periodic inspections of ESI assets, including 11KV switchgear, to ensure compliance with the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988. All the area electricity boards in England and Wales were, for example, visited between March and May this year, and a number of substations and overhead line support structures were inspected. A number of follow-up inspections arising from these visits have also been made.