§ 32. Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement upon the future scale of work and of staffing at the Culham Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Establishment.
§ Mr. BennI understand that the Atomic Energy Authority is at present considering the report of a working party set up to review the programme of the Culham laboratory, but that no decision on the future scale of work and of staffing has yet been taken.
§ Mr. PriceWould the right hon. Gentleman recognise that there is a feeling of disquiet amongst the staff at Culham as to their future and as to what the scale of activities at Culham is to be? Would he invite the Atomic Energy Authority to be reasonably precipitate in announcing to the staff what is to be the future of that laboratory?
§ Mr. BennThe considerations which the hon. Gentleman mentions about the staff are very much in mind, but, as he himself knows, these are the very issues which are in fact the subject of an inquiry elsewhere in this building. As soon as it is possible to reach a decision there will, of course, be full consultation with the staff. Here is a great centre of excellence and the treatment of it is a matter of great importance.