Nuclear Power Facilities

Martin Horwood
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the height above sea level is of the nuclear power facility sites at (a) Berkeley, (b) Bradwell, (c) Calder Hall, (d) Capenhurst, (e) Chapelcross, (f) Dungeness A, (g) Hinkley Point A, (h) Hunterston A, (i) LLW Repository, (j) Oldbury, (k) Sellafield, (l) Sizewell A, (m) Trawsfynydd and (n) Wylfa; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks
The approximate height above sea level of the nuclear power facilities is as follows:

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|               |Metres above sea level|
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|Berkeley       |10                    |
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|Bradwell       |5.5                   |
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|Calder Hall    |18                    |
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|Capenhurst     |43                    |
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|Chapelcross    |76                    |
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|Dungeness A    |6                     |
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|Hinkley Point A|11                    |
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|Hunterston A   |3                     |
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|LLW Repository |15                    |
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|Oldbury        |10                    |
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|Sellafield     |20 to 30              |
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|Sizewell A     |9                     |
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|Trawsfynydd    |196                   |
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|Wylfa          |12.5                  |
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Charles Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of the reports commissioned from consultants as part of the Energy Review refer to the siting of new nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks
As part of our analysis for the Energy Review we commissioned Jackson Consulting to undertake a high-level assessment of the suitability of the existing nuclear generating sites to support possible new power stations. The purpose of the report was to help us form a view on whether nuclear could play a role in the future generating mix. The study was not aimed at the potential siting of new plant—this will be for the private sector to decide, should it decide to bring forward proposals for new build.

The report prepared for the Review by Morgan Stanley focused on the investment and market conditions under which new generating capacity of any technology might come forward. There were references to the availability of sites as part of this.

There were no other reports that referred to the siting of new nuclear power stations.

Alan Duncan
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department was informed of boiler tube cracking at British Energy power stations Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B.

Mr. Darling
[holding answer 4 December 2006]: Boiler tube cracking is a recognised phenomenon at Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B. HSE’s Nuclear Safety Directorate has monitored the situation since the early 1990s and BE disclosed the phenomenon in its recent re-listing prospectus. The Department was informed of the recent incidents of boiler tube cracking at these stations shortly before British Energy made its announcements to the market.