Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 10 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 July 2006. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 17 July 2006 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the risk to the public caused by the cracking of the graphite bricks in the core of the advanced gas-cooled reactors; what assessment he has made of (a) the reasons for the cracking and (b) whether the cracking will worsen; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Graphite brick cracking is a well known life-limiting feature of British Energy's advanced gas-cooled reactors, and all of these reactors are undergoing the same degradation process at varying rates. All of the UK's nuclear power stations are subject to robust regulation by the independent regulator, HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), and I am advised on nuclear safety matters by the NII's Chief Inspector.I am satisfied that the NII would not allow any nuclear power station to continue to operate if there was an unacceptable risk to the general public.

Secondary information