HC Deb 10 May 1966 vol 728 cc187-9
1. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Technology how many persons were originally employed at Dounreay Experimental Station and the adjoining reactor station, respectively; how many are now employed there; in what capacities; and whether the work there is increasing or diminishing.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Edmund Dell)

At the outset, in 1955, 100 were employed; at present some 2,400 are employed, of whom three-fifths are industrial workers. The construction of the prototype fast reactor is expected to result in a small but temporary increase in the numbers employed by the Atomic Energy Authority at the station.

Mr. Hughes

While realising that Dounreay is doing very valuable technological work, may I ask the Minister to say how that work is related to "constructivity" and the industrial development of northeast Scotland?

Mr. Dell

This is a prototype fast reactor. It is intended to find out whether this is a good means of generating electricity cheaply. If, as we hope, it is, then it will benefit the whole nation, including north-east Scotland and, indeed, Aberdeen.

2. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Technology if he will establish at Dounreay Experimental Station and its adjoining reactor station electrolytic processes and processes to extract minerals from sea water which will be suitable for location in Aberdeen to use the cheap electricity in prospect from Dounreay.

Mr. Dell

No. Sir.

Mr. Hughes

Does my hon. Friend realise that these electrolytic processes in other nations are related to constructive work and the enrichment of those nations? Will he say how the same processes at Dounreay or the adjoining establishment are related to constructivity and the industrial development of northeast Scotland?

Mr. Dell

I have no reason to think that this country is in any way behind in the development of electrolytic processes. However, this has nothing to do with specific methods of generating electricity, provided those methods are sufficiently cheap.

Mr. Maclennan

Is it the intention of the Minister that scientific research undertaken at the Dounreay establishment shall be related to the prototype fast reactor, and is other scientific research not to be carried on at the establishment?

Mr. Dell

The work at the Dounreay prototype fast reactor site is primarily related to that reactor. However, there is a processing plant for high energy fuels and also general research facilities in fast reactor technology.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

In regard to the extraction of minerals from sea water, would the hon. Gentleman say where the Atomic Energy Authority proposes to do most of the practical research on desalination?

Mr. Dell

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the name of a particular site where this work is being done, but I assure him that it is going ahead very successfully.