asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy (a) the location of nuclear reactors in Great Britain, (b) the distance such nuclear reactors are from the nearest point on the Irish Coast, (c) if there is a danger from any of these stations to this country in the event of a serious accident there, and (d) the precautions that the Government have taken to ensure the safety of people in this country in such an event.
Written Answers. - British Nuclear Reactors.
232.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
(a) (b) |
Nuclear Power Station |
Location |
Distance (approx.) to the Irish coast (miles) |
|
Wylfa |
Anglesea, Wales |
60 |
|
|
Trawsfynydd |
Merionethshire Wales |
85 |
|
|
Hunterston |
Ayrshire, Scotland |
90 |
|
|
Calder Hall |
Windscale, England |
110 |
|
|
Chapelcross |
Dumfries, Scotland |
135 |
|
|
Hinckley Point |
Somerset, England |
160 |
|
|
Oldbury |
Somerset, England |
165 |
|
|
Berkeley |
Gloucestershire, England |
165 |
|
|
Dounreay |
Caithness, Scotland |
265 |
|
|
Bradwell |
Essex, England |
300 |
|
|
Sizewell |
Suffolk, England |
325 |
|
|
Dungeness |
Suffolk, England |
325 |
|
|
In addition the following two stations are under construction |
|||
|
Heysham |
Lancashire, England |
130 |
|
|
Hartlepool |
Durham, England |
200 |
(c) (d) The Nuclear Energy Board have the statutory function of advising me on nuclear energy and matters connected therewith. I am advised by the board that the risk at any of the UK nuclear power stations of an incident constituting significant health hazard in Ireland is extremely low. Whilst it is not necessary to develop special precautions here, close co-operation and liaison with the relevant UK regulatory agencies is maintained by the Nuclear Energy Board and contact is maintained with the British authorities to ensure that we are kept fully informed of nuclear incidents in the UK.
In addition, under the relevant provisions of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission of the European Communities and a group of experts drawn from each member state examine the plans for nuclear installations. In this context the plans for four UK nuclear power stations, Dungeness, Hartlepool, Heysham and Hinckley Point constucted since the UK acceded to the EEC have been examined and found unlikely to constitute significant health hazards to the members of the public of other member states.