Nuclear Power Programme (Hansard, 17 December 1956)

§ 1. Mr. Warbey
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to announce the Government's proposals for an expansion and acceleration of the atomic power programme.

§ 11. Mr. Chetwynd
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can now state his plans for the expansion and acceleration of the programme for further schemes of electrical generation by nuclear power.

26. Dr. Bennett
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he will announce the increased programme for commercial nuclear power.

§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Aubrey Jones)
As I said last week in answer to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick), the Government are anxious to expand the nuclear power programme as far and as fast as they practicably can and, to this end, are urgently reviewing the programme. I regret that this review is not yet concluded, but I hope to be in a position to make a statement after the Christmas Recess.

§ Mr. Warbey
Is the Minister aware that his announcement is extremely disappointing in view of the fact that it was widely understood, and indeed reported in the Press, that he would make a statement today, and, further, in view of the fact that the Minister promised many months ago to make a statement on an expanded atomic power programme as soon as the tenders for the new power stations had been examined? We understand that that examination has taken 902 place. What is now holding up the matter?

§ Mr. Jones
I trust the House will not hold me responsible for what appears in the Press, but I did undertake to the House to endeavour to make a statement before the end of the year. I am sorry that the study is not quite concluded, but as soon as the Christmas Recess is over, I shall make a statement.

Dr. Bennett
In coming to his conclusions, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that he is not likely to be criticised in this House or in the country for going too far in the direction of expanding this programme?

§ Mr. Jones
As I have said, the Government are most anxious to go as far and as fast as we practicably can, the operative word being, of course, "practicably".

§ Mr. Chetwynd
Is the Minister aware that, while we welcome the announcement of the latest award of the contracts, which is very much in advance of what was anticipated, we should like to know whether there is any reason he cannot go ahead now and announce that, as far as possible, we intend to double the present programme? Can he say whether it is technical skill or money that is holding up the announcement?

§ Mr. Jones
There are several questions to be taken into account—technical skills, raw materials and, of course, capital. All those have to be examined, and clearly the examination cannot be done in too great a hurry. However, I hope very much to be in a position to make a statement very soon after the Christmas Recess.

§ Mr. Callaghan
In so far as it is finance which may be holding up the programme, will the Minister bear in mind that there are very grave anxieties pressing upon anyone who has to take this decision as a commercial matter, and may I ask him whether or not he will consider that it would probably be the view of the whole House that, if necessary, the Government should put some finance into this in order not to hold up the programme?

§ Mr. Jones
I should not like to prejudge the answer to that question, but I assure the House that there will not be any delay.

§ 7. Mr. Palmer
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he has taken in the national interest to ensure that an effective liaison has been established between the Central Electricity Authority and the Atomic Energy Authority in order to advance the nuclear power station construction programme with the least possible delay.

§ Mr. Aubrey Jones
The Central Electricity Authority and the Atomic Energy Authority have made arrangements to keep in the closest touch on all aspects of the nuclear power programme and my Ministry is associated with both Authorities in the urgent study now being given to the expansion of the programme.

§ Mr. Palmer
Would the right hon. Gentleman care to say whether it is true that there have been strong differences of opinion between the Central Electricity Authority and the Atomic Energy Authority on these matters? If that be the case, is there not an argument for having one Minister in charge of these matters instead of two Ministers?

§ Mr. Jones
In my experience, I have never yet known any body of people in which there has been no disagreement, but I cannot think that, whatever disagreements there may have been, they have affected the amity of the relations. The second point raised by the hon. Member touches much larger issues.