§ 5. Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Power if, in relation to his responsibilities for taking decisions on the nuclear power programme, he will seek information from the Government of the United States of America about the capital costs 534 of nuclear power plant now being built in the United States of America.
§ 11. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Power what evaluation has been made of the United States General Electric boiling water reactor for future atomic power stations in this country; and whether he intends to sanction its use by the Central Electricity Generating Board as a substitute for advanced gas-cooled reactors.
§ Mr. ErrollThe Committee examining the future of the nuclear power programme will have taken into account any type of nuclear reactor which might prove economic in this country, and the Government will reach their decisions in the light of the Committee's advice on this and other relevant matters.
§ Mr. AlbuIn view of the very considerable delay in the Committee making its report, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be advisable for as much public information as possible to be provided about the claims being made by the General Electric Co. of America for its boiling water reactor, which it claims to be able to build for a capital cost of under £40 per kilowatt? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that Parliament and the whole country should have as much information as possible about the relative advantages of different types of reactor?
§ Mr. ErrollI agree with the hon. Member. I thought that his Question was possibly tabled in the light of the publicity given to the offer of the General Electric Co. of America. I can assure him that the Atomic Energy Authority and the Government have in their possession all the information which they need regarding this and other developments in the United States.
§ Mr. ErrollI will consider that.