HC Deb 11 January 2000 vol 342 cc108-9W
Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from(a) trade unions and (b) former workers in the nuclear power industry about health and safety risks in relation to outsourcing. [104147]

Mrs. Liddell

There have been none.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many production incidents were reported at Magnox and advanced gas-cooled reactors in 1999; how many reactors had to be shut down; and for what length of time. [104137]

Mrs. Liddell

There are 35 reactors operating at 16 nuclear power stations across Great Britain. During 1999, production was interrupted by unplanned shutdowns (either automatic or by power station operators) on 78 occasions. All except 15 of these were for 10 days or less. The remainder ranged from 10 to 259 days.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff have been shed by the nuclear power industry since its privatisation; and what reports he has received from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in respect of(a) Magnox and (b) advanced gas-cooled reactors visited in 1999 concerning the (i) number of redundancies and (ii) adequacy of training of employed contractors. [104136]

Mrs. Liddell

Since the privatisation of British Energy in 1996, it has shed just over 1,000 jobs. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate have not published any reports on either redundancies or the adequacy of training of employed contractors. I understand that the Health and Safety Executive will shortly be publishing its safety management audit of British Energy.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken in response to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's findings on the impact of staff redundancies on the safety of the nuclear power industry; and if he will make a statement. [104146]

Mrs. Liddell

I have not received any report from the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on the impact of staff redundancies on safety in the nuclear power industry.

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