§ 45. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent the incorporation of stage two reactors in the civil atomic energy programme is delayed by the retention of enriched nuclear fuel in the military stockpile.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)Not at all, Sir.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Sir John Cockcroft has made it clear that there is no technical reason why stage two reactors should not now be planned if supplies of enriched nuclear fuel could be made available, and that if this were done, in a few years' time we should have an enormous speeding up of the several atomic energy programmes with a saving of coal and oil? Will the Government give the Atomic Energy Authority an assurance that it can now go ahead with plans for stage two reactors on the assumption that, when they are ready to operate, enriched fuel will be released from the military stockpile?
§ Mr. ButlerMy answer was to the effect that the retention of enriched nuclear fuel was not a reason for not going ahead with these reactors. The real difficulty is the speed of research and development, a matter which I discussed with Sir John Cockcroft when I visited Calder Hall. I shall listen to what the hon. Gentleman says, but I assure him that that is the case.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask whether, if what my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) says is correct, as no doubt it is, the difficulty would not be overcome if the Americans would make more enriched uranium 235 available to us instead of sending it to the 1444 Continent where ultimately it will be put to improper purposes?
§ Mr. ButlerI will pay attention also to what the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) says, and I notice his identity of interest with his hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey).
§ Sir J. HutchisonIn contrast to what the hon. Member for Ashfield has been insinuating in his Question, is it not a fact that stage two reactors have for a long time past been planned?