§ 51. Mr. Warbeyasked the Prime Minister what precise arrangements have been made to assure to prospective purchasers of British-made nuclear reactors an adequate supply of nuclear fuels, including enriched fuels.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is prepared to supply natural uranium fuel elements for reactors made in the United Kingdom. The graphite-moderated gas-cooled type of reactor, as at present designed, does not require enriched fuel. The availability of enriched uranium is limited by the capacity of the Authority's diffusion plant at Capenhurst and by the other calls upon it, but a part of the total output has been set aside to provide fuel for reactors sold abroad of a type requiring enriched fuel.
§ Mr. WarbeyThe latter part of the information is welcome, but is the Prime Minister aware that other countries, such as Japan, are very interested in reactors using partially enriched fuel and that unless they can get assured supplies from this country they will buy them from the United States? Can the Prime Minister say whether the arrangements for British export production are such as to be able to satisfy all possible demands?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, as I said in the reply, the availability of enriched uranium is limited by the capacity of the diffusion plant at Capenhurst and by the other calls made upon it. I went on to say that part of the total output is set aside to provide fuel for any 1749 type of reactor which might be sold abroad and which required this type of fuel.