§ 20. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on progress towards development of an economic nuclear reactor for merchant vessels.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Gerry Fowler)No requirement has yet been found for a ship calling for the large power output necessary to make nuclear marine propulsion competitive.
The Government are keeping this under review in collaboration with the shipbuilding and shipping interests.
§ Mr. WallDoes the hon. Gentleman believe that further progress can be made without trials and a prototype ship afloat? Does he realise that we, a premier maritime nation, are rapidly falling behind in this important development?
§ Mr. FowlerThe crucial question here is whether such a project would be commercially viable. It would be madness to indulge in quite heavy expenditure, particularly if such expenditure were borne by the Exchequer, without any commercial prospect for the sale of such a vessel.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that, since the Padmore Committee reported some years ago, thinking on this matter has changed considerably as a result of the concept of the container ship with a nuclear-powered hull for a quick turn-round? Will he give a little more encouragement to those who have really progressive ideas in this field?
§ Mr. FowlerWe are encouraging the shipbuilding and shipping interests to discuss this matter in the hope that they may be able to produce a commercially viable project. In recent years, the governmental position in the matter has taken a sharp turn for the better in that both the atomic energy interests and shipbuilding interests are now concentrated in the same Department, the Ministry of Technology.