HC Deb 12 December 1956 vol 562 cc435-6
46. Mr. Beswick

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now review, in the light of the nation's fuel requirements, the allocation of manufactured nuclear material as between the civil and military programmes.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No, Sir. The type of nuclear power station to be built in the early years of the nuclear power programme uses natural uranium and the Atomic Energy Authority do not expect any shortage of this fuel. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 31st October, the timing of the introduction of more advanced reactor types will be determined by the progress of research and development.

Mr. Beswick

Whilst the Lord Privy Seal gave us that answer, the Minister of Fuel the other day gave us the answer that shortage of fuel is one of the limiting factors in the development of our nuclear energy programme. Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree—and I respect his opinion on these matters—that it is futile to puff ourselves up like a bullfrog with nuclear weapons if we are tottering on the edge of bankruptcy? Will he, therefore, give an absolute assurance that there will be no limit placed on the expansion of the nuclear energy programme by the shortage of nuclear fuel?

Mr. Butler

We have to go into the matter rather fully if we are to understand this. Gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactors of the Calder Hall type will have sufficient natural uranium. It is when we come to the reactors with higher heat rating, and in particular the fast breeder reactors using highly enriched fuel, that we are likely to have some difficulty. It is in respect of the first that I do not see any shortage of fuel.

Mr. Beswick

What about the second?

Mr. Butler

That we shall have to deal with, because this is a matter which is important to our country. I do not accept that we are in a state of bankruptcy. I regard our economy as being posed on a satisfactory basis, and I consider that evidence of this is given by the action of the International Monetary Fund.

Mr. D. Price

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the greatest limiting factor to the nuclear energy programme is the shortage of engineers?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir, that is one of the reasons.