§ 27. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what were the nature and value of the products exported by the Atomic Energy Authority last year.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethDuring the last financial year, the Authority exported fuel elements and uranium worth£4¾ million, and isotopes worth£4¾ million, making £5½ million in all.
§ Mr. OsbornHas my hon. Friend any information whether this figure, and the range of products, is likely to increase?
§ Mr. FreethI have every hope that it will increase, and I have been most impressed by the effort that the Authority is putting into its salesmanship.
§ Mr. SnowWhat information is at the disposal of our commercial counsellors on the availaible exportable potential?
§ Mr. FreethIf the hon. Gentleman is referring to commercial counsellors in embassies abroad—
§ Mr. Freeth—to the best of my knowledge and belief, they have full information, but if the hon. Gentleman has come across a case where he feels that information is deficient, I should be most grateful to him if he would let me know.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeIs my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the price we are obtaining for the uranium we are exporting compares satisfactorily with the price we have been paying for uranium from Canada?
§ Mr. FreethI think we have to remember that if we are to export fuel elements, we must in our costs reflect the current world price of uranium, irrespective of any price we may happen to have paid.