Nuclear-Powered Survey Ship (Hansard, 15 February 1965)

§ 23. Mr. Wingfield Digby
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now authorise the placing of an order for a nuclear-powered survey ship for the Royal Navy.

§ Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu
No requirement for a nuclear-powered survey ship can be foreseen at present.

§ Mr. Digby
Would the Under-Secretary not agree that there is a need for the Royal Navy to get experience of nuclear-powered surface ships and that this might be one of the best ways of it doing so?

§ Mr. Mallalieu
Surface ships, yes, but not survey ships. This is an extremely important but frightfully expensive question. We are looking at it carefully.

§ Commander Courtney
As we have heard nothing about the development of a nuclear-powered merchant ship, and as the Royal Navy also has a requirement for nuclear-powered surface ships, would it not be right to make this the responsibility of the Admiralty Board, which has the design and engineering facilities for developing such a project?

§ Mr. Mallalieu
That is a different question.