HC Deb 10 March 1964 vol 691 cc231-2
5. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science when the joint appraisal by the Generating Board and the Atomic Energy Authority of the merits of various new types of reactors is expected; and if it will be published.

Mr. Hogg

I have nothing as yet to add to the Answers on this subject given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27th February.

Mr. Lubbock

The Answers given by the Prime Minister concern the Report of the Powell Committee, do they not? What I am asking in this Question is that the joint appraisal by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Atomic Energy Authority which was presented to the Powell Committee and on which its recommendations to the Minister were based should be published as a separate report so that the House can appreciate the technicalities involved.

Mr. Hogg

Yes, Sir, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that he was considering the form in which the information should be given to the House. This would cover both the Report and the evidence before the Committee.

Mr. Albu

Can the Minister confirm the rumours that the recommendation is for 5,000 megawatts of advanced gas-cooled reactors, but that the Central Electricity Generating Board has insisted on competitive tendering for this and for the American boiling water reactor? If this is so, does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that it is time that the results of this inquiry were published so that the very serious insecurity in the industry and throughout the Atomic Energy Authority can be ended?

Mr. Hogg

It is very desirable that there should be full ventilation of the subject in public.

Mr. Lubbock

Following on the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu), supposing that it is some time before a decision is taken on the next generation of reactors, will the Minister consider placing an order for another station of the Magnox type in order that the consortia can be given enough work to keep it going?

Mr. Hogg

The hon. Member will remember that the placing of orders for full-scale reactors as distinct from research and pilot-scale reactors is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board, and questions relating to them should be put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power.