HC Deb 27 November 1968 vol 774 cc487-8
13. Mr. Palmer

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the recent successful experiments conducted at the Culham Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Authority in the containment of superheated plasma in a magnetic field.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Recent experiments reported in the Press demonstrated that the ideally-expected slow rate of escape of hot plasma across the confining magnetic field can be achieved under these particular experimental conditions. This is encouraging to the scientists whose work is directed ultimately to the development of a fusion reactor.

Mr. Palmer

Would not my hon. Friend agree that nuclear fusion is still of the greatest importance to the development of nuclear reactor technology in this country?

Mr. Mallalieu

Certainly I agree that it is of immense importance, and a great deal of important work has been done on it.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

In view of the very much longer time scale on which most of the work at Culham operates compared with the rest of the work in the A.E.A., will the hon. Gentleman consider the possibility that the S.R.C. might be the better auspice under which to put the Culham Laboratory?

Mr. Mallalieu

These things are being considered and I will look at that suggestion.