HC Deb 27 June 1956 vol 555 cc484-5
45 Sir J. Hutchison

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) from where any fissile material for reactors sold to the Federal Republic of Germany will be supplied; and what will be its nature;

(2) where reactors to be sold to the Federal Republic of Germany are to be manufactured;

(3) what contracts have been concluded with the Federal Republic of Germany for the sale of reactors; and the size of such reactors.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

A provisional order has been placed with a British firm for a small research reactor of the swimming-pool type by one of the German Lander, but this is subject to an agreement being reached between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany covering the supply of fissile material and the reprocessing of spent fuel elements. If this agreement is concluded, and the order confirmed, the reactor will be manufactured by the firm concerned and the fissile material, in the form of manufactured fuel elements, will be supplied by the Atomic Energy Authority. The material will be uranium enriched in the isotope U.235 up to a maximum of 20 per cent. U.235.

Sir J. Hutchison

I am sure the country will be pleased to hear of the reply of my right hon. Friend and that some progress is being made in selling reactors abroad. Can he say whether this agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany covers a wider area of research and development than the sale of these reactors?

Mr. Butler

It is important for my hon. Friend and the House to realise that the agreement has not yet been finally reached. That is why I used the expression A provisional order has been placed. Discussions are proceeding between the United Kingdom Government, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Atomic Energy Authority.

Mr. Stokes

Are we to understand from the first Answer of the right hon. Gentleman that the enriched uranium, of which we are in short supply ourselves, is to be supplied from this country, or is it more likely to be sent from the United States of America?

Mr. Butler

If first an agreement is made and then this order goes through, it will be supplied by the Atomic Energy Authority.

Mr. Stokes

Where will it come from?