HC Deb 11 April 1956 vol 551 cc209-11
46. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Atomic Energy Authority in research on the non-military use of energy derived from the fusion of light elements.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The investigation of the possibilities of obtaining economic power from controlled thermonuclear reactions is part of the Authority's research programme.

Mr. Warbey

How is it that the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Authority, according to Press reports, can say that the Authority is prepared to tell private industry all it knows about these processes? In view of the vast importance of this matter can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government are exercising control over what the A.E.A. does or not?

Mr. Butler

That is rather a matter covered by the next Question on the Paper and by answers I have given to the hon. Gentleman in reply to previous Questions. I am satisfied that this is the only way we can make progress in this matter, and I am satisfied also that, until we get a little more experience of the particularly intricate question the hon. Gentleman asks, I cannot give any more information.

Mr. Warbey

Does the right hon. Gentleman really mean to say that the Authority is prepared to give information about fusion processes to private industry?

Mr. Butler

I cannot add to the information already given of the methods of control provided under the Acts in question to the Authority itself.

Mr. Hobson

Will the right hon. Gentleman be very careful before he passes any information of the character asked for in the Question about nuclear fusion?

Mr. Butler

Naturally, I would be careful, but a good deal of the information has been published already at Geneva and elsewhere.

Mr. Hobson

Not on the point mentioned in the Question.

47. Mr. Warbey

asked the Lord Privy Seal what limitations are at present imposed on the number, type, and capacity of nuclear reactors which may be constructed, owned, and operated in the United Kingdom by private industry.

Mr. R. A. Butler

There are no statutory limitations; but as I pointed out to the hon. Member on 21st March, any control necessary in this field can at present be secured through the Atomic Energy Authority's monopoly of fissile material.

Mr. Warbey

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen from Press reports that the Atomic Energy Authority is now apparently prepared to encourage private industry to construct its own nuclear reactors without limit? Is this the Government's policy? Is not the matter now really getting out of hand and is it not time that a licensing system was introduced?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. I have said already that my noble Friend has in reserve certain powers under the Act in question, to which I referred in answer to the previous Question. We think that we need the help of private industry, and to that extent we may differ from the hon. Member and some of his hon. Friends, but we also think that we have in reserve the powers necessary, and so much information has been published with relation to this activity in Geneva and elsewhere that we do not think that any abuse has arisen.

Mr. Nabarro

Was not the primary and fundamental purpose of the Atomic Energy Act, 1953, at all stages in its progress in the House to secure the maximum possible co-operation between every branch of the privately owned electrical and mechanical engineering industries in this country with the Atomic Energy Authority?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir. As I have previously explained in reference to previous Acts, that was one of the objects.