§ 38. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Works what quantities of uranium have been allocated by the Combined Development Agency to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the United States Atomic Energy Commission, respectively, during each of the three years to 30th June, 1955.
§ Mr. BirchAs I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate, it would not be in the public interest to disclose the amounts of those allocations.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhile appreciating that difficulty, could not the Minister tell us what the proportions are? That would not be making any disclosure, and it would give us some idea whether we are getting our fair share of the available supplies of uranium through an arrangement which, after all, makes this country dependent on the good will of a commercial competitor.
§ Mr. BirchI do not altogether agree with the hon. Gentleman's view of what is a disclosure. All I can say is that the agreement is working reasonably well, and we are satisfied with it.
§ Mr. WarbeyAre we getting our fair share?
§ 39. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Works what assistance the Government are giving to the Atomic Energy Authority in the procurement of supplies of uranium independently of the combined Development Agency.
§ Mr. BirchIt is not at present possible to say to what extent uranium procurement will take place independently of the Combined Development Agency, but I can assure the hon. Member that Her Majesty's Government will give assistance wherever it is practicable and desirable.
§ Mr. WarbeyCan the Minister say why the Atomic Energy Authority, as revealed in its Annual Report, is not directly financing prospecting for uranium in British Colonial Territories? Is it because the Government are keeping money for this purpose from it, or is there another reason?
§ Mr. BirchIf the hon. Member will read the Report with attention, he will find that a great deal is being done to encourage the search for uranium in the Colonies.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhy cannot something be done to help the Authority to finance the prospecting?