§ 9. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Minister of Defence what decisions he has taken to arrange that plutonium for weapons will be produced at atomic energy plants designed for peaceful uses.
§ Mr. SandysThis is the Question to which I referred the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. de Freitas).
I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement made by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General yesterday.
§ Mr. HughesThe Minister is getting more and more laconic and less and less impressive in the House. Is he aware that we thought that he was sent to his present position to reduce expenditure, whereas the increased cost of his latest decision is to put between £12 million and £15 million on our national bill? Is he also aware that this means a massive increase in national expenditure in the sixties, which will be the time when we need to use these atomic plants for industrial purposes?
§ Mr. SandysIf the hon. Gentleman is concerned about expenditure, all I can say is that these modifications, at a relatively small cost, will have the effect of greatly reducing the cost involved in making this additional military plutonium, should the need arise.
§ Mr. de FreitasMy question was much simpler. While not dissenting necessarily from the increased charge being put on, I should like to know if this money will be accounted for in the Defence Estimates so that we may know what the cost of this is?
§ Mr. SandysThe cost will be borne on the Defence Vote and, therefore, will not affect the cost of electricity.