HC Deb 30 July 1963 vol 682 cc222-3
26. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what progress has been made in the evaluation of the respective merits of the Vulcain and integral boiling reactor systems for use in ships.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

The respective merits of the two systems will be reviewed in the autumn in the light of progress over the last year. The review will be carried out by the Working Group on Marine Reactor Research, advised by the Technical Advisory Panel.

Mr. Digby

Does that mean that there will be a final decision then? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that many of us are anxious to see the actual laying down of the first British nuclear ship at the earliest possible date?

Mr. Freeth

I have every sympathy with my hon. Friend, but the question of the actual laying down of a ship is, of course, for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. There will, however, be a decision in the autumn as to whether definitely to build a ship and which reactor to put it in.

Commander Courtney

Could my hon. Friend do better than this? It is already nine months, according to my calculation, since the Atomic Energy Authority recommended two specific types of reactor as suitable. Could my hon. Friend not now, in the meantime, perhaps urge the Minister of Transport to initiate discussions for the building of two ships and not one, in case of any doubts about the respective merits of these two reactors?

Mr. Freeth

A review will take place this autumn, and we shall then be in a position to see whether there are any doubts or not.