§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he received the long-term safety review report on Hinkley Point A nuclear plant from the Health and Safety Executive; and what decisions have been taken regarding the future operation of the station as a result of the report.
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§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI received a copy of the Health and Safety Executive's report on the nuclear installations inspectorate's (NII) findings on Nuclear Electric plc's (NE) long-term safety review (LTSR) of Hinkley Point A nuclear power station on 11 September 1991. It is for NE to decide how to react to requirements listed in the report, and to evaluate any implications for the future operation of the station.
The NII concluded that there was no reason why the station should not continue in safe operation and the report lists key requirements defining a programme of work to be completed to specified timescales if operation of the station is to continue to the LTSR's target life of thirty years. I am informed that NE is making satisfactory progress on the programme of work. One of the NII's requirements is the need for further evaluation of the weld material in the reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) in order to provide confidence in the safe operation of the reactors beyond the end of 1991. This requirement was made to take account of recently available additional data on radiation-induced embrittlement of the weld material. Prior to publication of the report NE had already amended the operating procedures of the RPVs at Hinkley Point A. They have now submitted a new safety case to the NII for the continued operation of the RPVs beyond the end of 1991, and this is currently being assessed by the NII.