HC Deb 28 May 1957 vol 571 cc219-20
53. Wing Commander Bullus

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to give publicity to the British atomic reactor among potential purchasers.

The Prime Minister

A constant supply of information about United Kingdom reactors and other atomic achievements in which this country can justly take pride is provided to countries abroad by our official representatives in each country and by such media as the Central Office of Information and the B. B.C. Overseas Service, as well as by the firms manufacturing nuclear equipment. Several films have been made and a number of exhibitions have been organised. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and industrial firms arrange frequent visits to their establishments here for scientists, engineers and industrialists from abroad. Speakers from this country lecture abroad and participate in conferences on the various peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Wing Commander Bullus

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that very comprehensive reply, may I ask him whether he is aware of the very genuine disquiet of many of us at what we consider to be the unprincipled trading methods of the Americans in this market, particularly at the conference which was held in Tokyo?

The Prime Minister

I think we must recognise that the conference in Tokyo, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, was of course a conference arranged by commercial interests.

Mr. Proctor

Private enterprise.

The Prime Minister

I think that the Answer which I have given, with that on Monday, 20th May, by the Paymaster-General, will dispel any anxiety that could be held about the quality of our equipment, which is of absolutely first order.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the British atomic exhibits at the Hanover Trade Fair have been excellent in every respect, and will he, therefore, examine the results of exhibiting them, considering that about 18,000 people a day have been going to look at them, and that they have created tremendous interest amongst German industrialists and other people? Will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, see that similar arrangements are made at other important world trade fairs?

The Prime Minister

Yes, I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his very helpful supplementary and his valuable suggestion.

Mr. Chetwynd

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the methods adopted by the Americans in Tokyo were most unscrupulous and most high-powered, and cannot we retaliate by sending an equally high-powered delegation to the Far East to deal with this problem and to make it abundantly clear that we are the only nation in the world that has a commercial reactor working at the present time?

The Prime Minister

It is not for me to comment on the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. With regard to the second part of it, I think that what the hon. Gentleman has said is true and ought to be known.