HC Deb 28 June 1993 vol 227 c369W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contribution is being made by the Atomic Energy Authority to the European Community's nuclear safety research project, the PHEBUS programme, at the Cadarache nuclear research centre in France; and how this involvement will assist in evaluating potential safety problems with the Sizewell B nuclear plant.

Mr. Eggar

The PHE13US programme comprises a series of experiments being carried out by the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique—CEA—the French nuclear safety R and D organisation. The programme is part funded by the European Community with additional funding from other countries. The Atomic Energy Authority is participating as part of the nuclear safety R and D programme sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive. The PHEBUS programme is not expected to produce results which can be used in the production of the safety case for Sizewell B.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the contribution made to nuclear safety by research conducted at the Falcon facility at Winfrith by the Atomic Energy Authority.

Mr. Eggar

The FALCON experimental facility at the Atomic Energy Authority's Winfrith site has been used to produce data to validate computer codes employed in the modelling of some aspects of the behaviour of a nuclear reactor in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident causing severe damage to the fuel.

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