§ 46. Sir J. Hutchisonasked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government will make an offer to Hungary and Czechoslovakia to purchase raw uranium from those countries.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority expects to draw its uranium supplies from Commonwealth sources. It doubts whether the countries mentioned could supply uranium in the form in which it wants it, but it would be ready to examine any specific offer which guaranteed continuity of supply.
§ Sir J. HutchisonIs not the position that Russia has been taking from these countries the supplies of uranium which are mined there and under-paying for them? If therefore we made such an offer, and it was accepted, we should have the satisfaction, and so would the countries concerned, of receiving and supplying the uranium. If, on the other hand, the offer were refused, it would at least show these countries that they are being underpaid for the uranium which is being mined, and would increase the dissatisfaction between them and Russia?
§ The Prime MinisterI realise what my hon. Friend has in mind. There are some technical difficulties because the Authority buys uranium as a chemical concentrate, and so far as we are aware, Hungary and Czechoslovakia export it as a raw ore. But apart from that difficulty, I do not think there is very much hope of obtaining supplies from the countries under the control of Russia.