§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how his Department was represented at the test to simulate a meltdown accident at a pressurised water reactor, held in France on 3 December; and what are the implications of the results of this test in regard to the future safety of the Sizewell B power plant.
§ Mr. EggarMy Department was not represented at the test carried out at Cadarache by the Commissariat a l'Engergie Atomique—the French nuclear safety R and D organisation. However, I understand that the Atomic Energy Authority is involved by means of an exchange agreement with the CEA under the nuclear safety R and D programme which is sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive. Both the HSE's nuclear installations inspectorate and Nuclear Electric will be informed of the results through the CEA-AEA agreement. It is not expected that the test will produce results which would affect the safety case prepared for Sizewell B.