Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 24th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the nuclear safety regime in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

[Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

11. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the nuclear safety regime in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Huhne]

Let me reassure the hon. Lady first and foremost that there are very substantial differences between our situation and that in Japan. We refused to authorise the boiling-water reactor type used in Japan when that was proposed for use in the UK. Secondly, we do not, of course, live in an earthquake zone. The strength of the most severe earthquake in the UK was a mere fraction of the strength of that in Japan—the recent Japan earthquake was stronger than the 1931 Dogger Bank earthquake by, I think, a factor of 60,000—and nor do we have the associated tsunamis. We are not complacent, however, and we are looking into this. We do have extreme weather events, and Dr Weightman has asked all our existing nuclear sites to check that they can withstand the extreme weather events that we experience.

[Bob Blackman]

With the advent of the electric car, there will clearly be a requirement for much more baseload overnight so that people can recharge their electric cars, which means the case for nuclear power advances quite rapidly. What we need in this country is safe nuclear power. What consideration has the Secretary of State given to ensuring it is produced quickly and safely?

[Chris Huhne]

As my hon. Friend knows, the coalition Government’s plans clearly envisage an important role for nuclear. We aim to bring the first new nuclear on stream for 2018. It is our view that new nuclear can play an important part, and unless Dr Weightman’s report gives us any particular reason to reassess that, I see no reason why that should not remain our view.