HC Deb 14 May 1964 vol 695 cc597-9
18. Mr. J. Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now publish the Padmore Report.

19. Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the Padmore Report on marine nuclear propulsion.

20. Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has delayed publishing the Padmore Report.

Sir E. Boyle

The Report is being published today.

Mr. Robertson

I thank the right hon. Gentleman and his right hon. and learned Friend for reacting so properly and promptly. Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to make a further statement about the development of the Vulcain reactor?

Sir E. Boyle

I cannot make a statement today—after all, the Report was received by the Government only in April. However, the Government will make a further statement on this subject as soon as possible.

Dr. Mabon

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the long history of procrastination in this matter? Can he answer a question which the right hon. and learned Gentleman and the Prime Minister and other Ministers have failed to answer for a long time and which now seems to be much more pertinent with the publication of the Padmore Report, namely, is it the Government's intention to use any vessel now being built for the Royal Navy, for example, the fleet replenishment vessel being built in my constituency, to house this reactor?

Sir E. Boyle

I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that the second part of his question goes far beyond the Question on the Order Paper, but I will say that the Government want to base their decision on a proper consideration of the Working Group's Report.

Mr. Millan

Is it not somewhat misleading to give the impression, as the right hon. Gentleman has done, that the Government have had only from the beginning of April to consider this matter? Is there not a long history over many years? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman this afternoon give a specific date for when the Government will announce their decision either to go ahead or to abandon the whole idea?

Sir E. Boyle

I regret that I cannot give a specific date, but I remind the hon. Gentleman of the statement in the Padmore Report that There is a paucity of established facts and reasonably assured deductions on which to base conclusions… I think that it is right that we should consider this matter thoroughly before reaching a decision.

Mr. Willey

As we now have the Padmore Report, and as we have been waiting for a decision because we did not have it, and as the Report asks the Government to take a decision, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us that a decision will be taken this Session and that we will have a White Paper which we can debate?

Sir E. Boyle

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government are well aware of the importance of reaching a decision as soon as they can.

25. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is now the total expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on the development of the Vulcain reactor.

Sir E. Boyle

The Atomic Energy Authority's share of expenditure to date on the Vulcain reactor is about £1 ¼ million. The Authority are partners in a joint project with Belgonulceaire, who have agreed that this information may be made public.

Mr. Digby

Without wishing to anticipate the Padmore Report, which I am glad is being published today, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether full development is continuing, and whether adequate money is available for the continuation of this project?

Sir E. Boyle

There are two points there. First, there is the A.E.A. commitment on scientific and experimental work on the Vulcain, and there is also a continuing commitment during the period of the fuel testing experiment with the BR-3 reactor, and for that about £750,000 will be spent over the next three or four years.