Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will institute an inquiry into potential dangers posed to the United Kingdom by French nuclear power stations located near to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BaldryThere is no reason to suppose that the standards of safety adopted by the French are any less rigorous than those applied in the United Kingdom. French reactors are built and operated to the highest safety standards. Moreover, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate has a formal exchange of information arrangement with the French nuclear safety regulatory body—the Service Central de Surete des Installations Nuclearies (SCSIN). Under this exchange the SCSIN has undertaken to inform the nuclear installations inspectorate of any matters which could affect the safe operation of plant.