§ 38. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Technology why the Dounreay materials testing reactor was closed down after 11 years; where and when its unfinished work will be resumed; what employment will be offered to the workers there; and what effect this will have on the employment conditions in the City of Aberdeen.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe reactor was closed down because the Atomic Energy Authority decided, after careful 430 consideration, that its needs for materials testing irradiation facilities could best be met by concentrating remaining work at Harwell. Staff will be transferred to other work at Dounreay, and employment conditions in Aberdeen should not be affected in any way.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes my hon. Friend realise that this closing down is very serious from the point of view of not only interference with the valuable work carried on there but interference with workers who live there who will have to transplant their homes to another area? Will he therefore give the evidence on which his deep consideration was based?
§ Mr. MallalieuI understand that there will be no uprooting whatever. The staff will be transferred to other work at Dounreay itself.