HC Deb 24 January 1967 vol 739 cc1241-3
7. Mr. Gregory

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he will make to the nuclear power engineering industry to reorganise the existing consortia system to ensure the advancement of the British advanced gas-cooled and high-temperature reactor systems, with a view to exploiting fully the economic advantages available in domestic application, and the export potential in this field.

8. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Technology what progress is being made by the Atomic Energy Authority in the export of advanced gas-cooled reactor atomic power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Benn

The promotion of A.G.R. exports is handled by the British Nuclear Export Executive, in which the A.E.A. and the three nuclear consortia work together. The A.G.R. is already being considered in one major tender competition and there are a number of further prospects in the offing. I am at this moment considering how best to increase the efficiency of the nuclear industry and promote export business. I am arranging to have talks with the industry.

Mr. Gregory

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Would not he agree that we need a much stronger export organisation to exploit A.G.R. and our world lead in nuclear power, and that such an organisation should have a nationally agreed policy towards existing and anticipated world markets?

Mr. Benn

That and similar considerations led me to suggest the talks which will shortly be taking place with the industry.

Mrs. Short

Would my right hon. Friend say whether or not it is correct that it is 18 months since we sold a nuclear reactor? Is he aware that there is now considerable competition from America and that there is great concern that our lead in this field is being whittled away?

Mr. Benn

I am aware of all those considerations. That is why we are pressing ahead with these discussions. We wish to see how our export effort can be strengthened.

Mr. Lubbock

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that last September the Board of Management of O.E.C.D. high-temperature reactor project "Dragon" announced that, on the information available from the performance of "Dragon" so far, it would be carrying out an assessment of the prospects for a nuclear power station of this type and that the results of that assessment would be available early in 1967? Can the right hon. Gentleman say when this report will be published and whether he considers that high-temperature reactors have a place in the British nuclear power programme?

Mr. Benn

That is a separate question.

Mr. Lubbock

No. Iit is a part of the Question.

Mr. Benn

With respect, a specific O.E.C.D. project, the "Dragon" project, raises a specific question; and there is a later Question on the Order Paper on that subject. However, I have in mind the considerations put by the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. David Price

While agreeing that this problem is not as easy as the Question might suggest, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would agree that the C.E.G.B., for perfectly sound reasons, has been encouraging the nuclear engineering industry to go for very large stations, whereas at the moment such export orders as do exist appear to be for relatively small stations? What views has the right hon. Gentleman about how we could marry these quite separate needs together for the benefit of our exports?

Mr. Benn

It is true that the A.G.R. involves considerable capital cost. However, the steam generating heavy water reactor which is going up a Winfrith is of a different kind and may have wider application. Coming along also is the fast reactor. Looking ahead to our export effort, which I hope will be vigorous, we must consider the new possibilities opened up by new reactor systems.