To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will close the nuclear power stations at Heysham and Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement.

No. Both the design and the operation of these stations conform to the highest standards of safety. From their inception, the two stations have been subject to inspection and to the licence conditions required by the independent nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) of the Health and Safety Executive. Siting of the installations was one of the factors extensively considered before the NII granted a licence for the construction of the plants.The NII has full powers to order the shutdown of any nuclear installation which it judges to constitute a threat to safety.