§ 30. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Technology what investigation is being made into the economies to be achieved by the production of atomic power from incubated thorium; and whether any reactors are being built in Great Britain to test and exploit this process.
§ Mr. CousinsThe Atomic Energy Authority has made some study of this but has concluded that in the short term thorium has no economic prospects as a substitute for uranium.
§ Mr. WoodburnIn regard to both this Question and the previous one, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that both Germany and America claim to have made a break-through in both laser development and in the development of thorium? Is he aware that they are now experimenting, and hope and believe that incubated thorium will provide cheaper atomic energy than anything so far developed?
§ Mr. CousinsI am aware of that, but the Atomic Energy Authority has its own views about the value of thorium at the moment, other than for cladding.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWill the right hon. Gentleman say what his Department is doing about this question of light from ruby lasers, and is not this a very important matter for the future?
§ Mr. CousinsCertainly it is.