HC Deb 05 December 1962 vol 668 cc1308-10
25. Mr. Bence

asked the Minister of Transport if he will speed up plans to lay down a nuclear-powered merchant ship, and so enable unused resources to be employed.

Mr. Marples

Any decision to build a nuclear merchant ship must depend on progress with the current research programme and this is already proceeding at a good pace.

Mr. Bence

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter of the development of a nuclear-powered marine engine has been going on for many years now, having been started by the Galbraith Committee? Will he keep in mind the statements which are being made on the Clyde by directors of some of our leading shipbuilders that if the Government do not take action very quickly to increase shipbuilding, or the possibility of building new ships and expanding the industry, damage will be done on the Clyde to the teams of workers and the techniques and we shall lose men and capacity which we may not recover in years to come?

Mr. Marples

The question of shipbuilding is distinct from the building of a nuclear ship. The first job is to find a suitable reactor for a ship. That is what we are working on hard and fast now, and with some hope. There is no point in building a ship with an unsuitable reactor merely for the sake of building a ship. As soon as we can get a suitable reactor we shall consider as a matter of urgency the building of a ship.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

Will my right hon. Friend consult with his colleague the Minister of Power, who is constructing or has constructed seven nuclear power stations, all uneconomic, at a cost of over £500 million which shows that there is something to be said for pushing on before we have the right reactor?

Mr. Marples

A great many consultations take place between the Minister for Science and myself on this matter. We are both convinced that, first, we have to find a nuclear reactor which will be economic and of some use to our shipping and shipbuilding.

Mr. Bence

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that its economic capacity will never be demonstrated until it is actually put into a hull and the ship puts to sea?

Mr. Marples

I quite agree, but a number of things are involved. First, we can decide whether it is hopelessly uneconomic or whether it is economic before we put it into the ship. The ship is the final test for the reactor.

Dame Irene Ward

Is it not a fact that the decision has already been taken as to what reactor is most suitable? I certainly have information on that. Would it not be rather funny if I were to announce what reactor was the most suitable and not the Minister?

Mr. Marples

My hon. Friend announces a lot of odd things from time to time and we all take notice of them, but the choice is between two reactors, and that is what we are considering now.