§ 23. Sir H. Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Technology what action Her Majesty's Government are taking, as Members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to obtain an early decision from those countries which are also members of Euratom that will enable the Dragon Project at Winfrith to be continued until 1970.
§ Mr. BennThe United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, as the United Kingdom signatory to the Dragon Agreement, has been active in seeking to extend 1255 the Dragon Agreement to 1970. Her Majesty's Government are supporting the Authority by representation through our Embassies in Euratom countries.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that as long ago as May of last year the chief executive of the Dragon Project, at a lecture in London, said that it was hoped that an early decision would be made on this matter then? We are now well into 1967. What steps is the right hon. Gentleman specifically seeking to take with the Euratom countries to get them to agree to a third five-year plan?
§ Mr. BennI have described one method I have adopted. I also discussed it when I took the Chair at the Euratom United Kingdom Continuing Committee. I took it up with Herr Stoltenberg in Bonn last week. There is no doubt that it is important, but the hon. Gentleman will have to recognise that, if he is advocating international organisations on a European pattern, the budgetary problems when five Governments are discussing what they will pay over a five-year period may well create serious difficulties for projects of this kind.