HL Deb 20 July 1977 vol 386 cc295-6

2.45 p.m.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will state the agenda of the forthcoming EEC Foreign Ministers' conference.

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, the Statement about business to be taken in the Council of Ministers of the European Community in July was circulated in the Official Report of your Lordships' House. The final agenda for the Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting on 26th July has, as is usual, not yet been decided.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, I should like to ask her whether we can take it, as has been widely reported in the Press, that the future siting of the JET project will be decided at that meeting?

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

Yes, indeed, my Lords; it will certainly be discussed, and, we hope, decided.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell us whether the Government are prepared to do everything possible to make sure that the project goes ahead, either here or in Germany? If it has to go to Germany instead of Culham, will the noble Baroness suggest to her right honourable friends that we should at least press for the contract for the supply of sophisticated equipment to come to this country?

Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

Yes, my Lords; Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly expressed their support for this project, and indeed have been deeply involved in the design team which is working on it. If it were to go to Germany, I think that the House would feel sad that no major Community project had come to this country, and that in the area of fusion research 70 per cent. of it would then have gone to Germany. We are deeply concerned that the project should take place and, so far as the equipment is concerned, we shall hope for the best.