§ 6. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that the United Kingdom's long-term supplies of nuclear fuels can be guaranteed, in the light of the implications for such supplies of the political situation in southern Africa.
§ 25. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that Great Britain's future supplies of uranium are secure.
§ Mr. EadieOur nuclear fuel requirements are covered until the early 1980s by existing contracts. British Nuclear Fuels Limited, as agents for the electricity generating boards, is seeking opportunities for further contracts throughout the world to meet requirements beyond this date. We have no reason to think that contracts for supply from southern Africa will not be met.
§ Mr. BennettIs my hon. Friend not aware that 40 per cent. of our contracts are with the South African Government for supply from Namibia, and that the people of Namibia are unhappy about it?
§ Mr. EadieIf my hon. Friend is raising the question of the politics of the area, he will have to address his remarks to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. Irrespective of what administration is in being in Namibia, there is certainly a desire and willingness on the part of its Government to sell uranium to other nations.
§ Mr. RentonAustralia is also looking very carefully at her export contracts for uranium. In view of the pressing need for self-sufficiency in energy supplies, has the Department developed a long-term model showing the different sources and different costs of energy over the next generation, in order that we can achieve self-sufficiency?
§ Mr. EadieThat is a pertinent question. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the matter has had consideration. He has heard me say many times that the nuclear power industry is not indigenous. We have to import uranium in order to sustain the industry. This is why the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay is significant for Britain, in the sense that we are world leaders in such technology. This is related to ensuring that in the long term we shall have a sufficiency of uranium to sustain our nuclear power industry.
Dr. MillerKeeping in mind that the Dounreay reactor is merely a prototype, will my hon. Friend indicate what progress has been made towards a large-scale commercial fast breeder which is also safe?
§ Mr. EadieMy hon. Friend is correct in stating that the Dounreay reactor is a prototype. Although we are world leaders in this technology, we are some years away from being able to say that we shall have a commercial breeder reactor, precisely for the reason my hon. Friend mentioned. Safety considerations must come into the matter before we can consider the whole question of a commercial reactor.
§ Mr. SkeetThe hon. Gentleman referred to the fast breeder. What contracts are available for the supply of thorium to the United Kingdom? Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to recommend to the Secretary of State that the British National Oil Corporation, like the oil companies, should search abroad for nuclear fuel?