§ 6. Mr. G. R. Straussasked the Minister of Works the reasons which led the Atomic Energy Authority to make a substantial change in its nuclear power programme, compared to that presented to the House in Command Paper No. 9389 in February; and why the six additional stations will come into operation before those contemplated in the original programme.
§ Mr. BirchThe six nuclear reactors do not form part of the civil programme, described in the Command Paper, which is to be carried out by the electricity authorities. They are being built in order to provide additional fissile material for military purposes as well as electricity. They are, therefore, being erected by the Atomic Energy Authority. They will come into operation before any of the stations in the civil programme, because they are exact replicas, rather than improved versions, of the two reactors now under construction at Calder Hall.
§ Mr. StraussNevertheless, is it not rather surprising that shortly after the Atomic Energy Authority issued a large civil programme—which was announced to the House a few months ago—another programme is announced which will make a further substantial contribution to the supply of electricity in this country? It seems rather strange that in the original statement the Authority made no mention of this very big further development, which was announced so shortly afterwards.
§ Mr. BirchThe statement made in the White Paper concerned power stations put up by the electricity authorities for civil use. These reactors are to produce both fissile material and electricity.
§ 7. Mr. G. R. Straussasked the Minister of Works what steps the Atomic Energy Authority proposes to take with the purpose of ensuring that Britain plays its rightful part in the development of nuclear power throughout the world, in view of 173 the financial and technical assistance promised by President Eisenhower to all countries who seek United States aid.
§ Mr. BirchI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 22nd June, to which I have at present nothing to add.
§ Mr. StraussBut that does not deal with the point that these promises made by President Eisenhower to provide half the cost of nuclear research stations to any country that desires them, with an enormous amount of technical aid, while no doubt exceedingly generous and to be welcomed, do, in fact, mean that a substantial subsidy will be given to industry in the United States in the export of all machinery and all matters connected with atomic development. Therefore, unless this country does something similar, or co-operates with other countries in the same way, it will be left very far behind. Can the Minister say whether the Authority is urgently considering, and are there any plans in mind to deal with, this very important matter?
§ Mr. BirchWhat President Eisenhower has done is to make certain proposals which are to be submitted to Congress in the United States. Nothing has positively happened yet. This matter is very much in our minds, and we have offered fissile material to other countries. We have also trained atomic scientists from other countries, and have offered aid in the erection of atomic reactors in other countries, but it will be appreciated that our resources are not so great as those of the United States.