§ 3. Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Minister of Technology whether research and development of marine nuclear propulsion will continue pending the conclusion of the review which he is conducting.
§ Mr. CousinsYes; certain work is continuing, including that covered by the Vulcain agreement with the Belgians which extends to 1967.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that certain members of the Padmore Committee would have wished when that Committee reported to have come out far more emphatically than the Committee as a whole did and that procrastination was regarded by some members of the Pad-more Committee as utterly disastrous in this matter as leading us into the position of having to be followers-on rather than promoters of new ideas?
§ Mr. CousinsI will certainly take those views into consideration, but the hon. Gentleman will be aware that a review is now being urgently undertaken.
§ Mr. MarplesWill the right hon. Gentleman take a personal interest in liaison with Belgium in this respect, because that country is very advanced in this matter? Would he not agree that it is of crucial importance that we have Anglo-European liaison on these research matters?
§ Mr. CousinsI will certainly take account of the right hon. Gentleman's views, which are similar to my own, of the need for co-operation in our efforts on these projects.