§ 23. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he has now reached a decision with regard to the application from London University Imperial College of Science and Technology for permission to build a low-power nuclear reactor.
§ Sir D. EcclesThis, and a number of similar applications from universities, are under consideration by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which is advised on the technical merits of these applications by the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science. These applications involve for each reactor a capital expenditure of up to £250,000, plus annual maintenance costs, and raise considerable issues both of finance and of principle. They must also be assessed in relation to other requests in all fields of science for research grants to universities. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. WainwrightIs the Minister aware that, according to a statement in The Times on 19th October this year, this application has been in his hands for at least two years? Does he not think that the universities ought to have attached to them low-power nuclear reactors, in view of the fact that in Western Germany and in France—not to mention the U.S.S.R. or the U.S.A.—lowpower reactors are attached to universities? Does he realise that if we want to train nuclear engineers and reactor physicists—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—just a moment—it is essential that we should have the best form of education for these engineers and scientists? I beg the Minister to give attention to this matter as soon as possible.
§ Sir D. EcclesMy noble Friend agrees that the provision of some reactors of this kind is most important, but as there have been a good number of applications it is clearly essential to determine where the reactors should be placed.