§ 33. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a further statement regarding a nuclear-powered merchant ship.
§ Mr. MarplesI will make a statement as soon as I can.
§ Mr. WilleyCan the right hon. Gentleman give a better assurance than that? Is he aware that there is a good deal of apprehension that we are rapidly losing ground in this branch of research, and a good deal of speculation as to what proposals we are making about European co-operation in these matters? We should have an early statement from the Minister to the House.
§ Mr. MarplesIn my view, it is absolutely vital that we should make the correct decision rather than a hurried decision. This is a complex problem, and it is no good over-simplifying it.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance that there will not be any unnecessary questions of prestige venturing into this matter? What we really want is a commercial venture. Can he give an assurance that the Atomic Energy Authority is sufficiently charged with the importance of the matter?
§ Mr. MarplesI am quite certain that the Atomic Energy Authority, the shipowners, the shipbuilders and Lloyds Register, representatives of all of whom are on the committee, have those considerations in mind, but I think that it would be folly if this country, with its limited resources, were to dissipate them on something that is not likely to be economic in the near future.
§ Mr. RankinWhen we do have this ship will the right hon. Gentleman bring it to Holy Loch and see that the other one is taken away?
§ Mr. WilleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that decisions have been taken in this matter? It is no good talking about the folly of making the wrong decision. Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that the Government have taken previous decisions which are wrong?
§ Mr. MarplesNo, the Question is about this particular decision. Other decisions have been made, but this one has not been made and that is why the hon. Gentleman put his Question on the Order Paper.