Nuclear Power Stations (Hansard, 22 January 1996)

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research has been initiated by his Department into early decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10089]

§ Mr. Eggar
My Department has not initiated any research into the early decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, my Department together with Nuclear Electric, is providing funding for the early decommissioning of the prototype advanced gas-cooled reactor at Windscale.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research the Government have initiated into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10088]

§ Mr. Eggar
The Government have not initiated any research into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, I am advised that in 1993–94 the nuclear installations inspectorate identified the use of telerobotics as a nuclear safety research issue that the nuclear licensees should address. As a result, Scottish Nuclear, on behalf of the licensees, undertook research on telerobotics safety-related control and protection.