HC Deb 18 November 1958 vol 595 cc988-9
13. Mr. Farey-Jones

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, to what extent the extensive use of radioactive isotopes in industrial research has proved of real advantage.

Mr. H. Nicholls

Considerable advantages have been gained by the proper application of these materials. Their use has enabled some types of research to be carried out much more directly and with less complicated equipment than by the older conventional experimental methods.

Mr. Farey-Jones

In view of that very satisfactory Answer, can my hon. Friend inform the House what steps the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is taking to promote the use of these materials both in its own stations and in industry generally?

Mr. Nicholls

In industry generally we depend upon people to make use of them, and the number has been considerable. They are used in our own Department and a new department has been set up at Harwell for this purpose. Officers of D.S.I.R. can go to the Harwell laboratories to make use of the specialised equipment which is there.