§ 60. Mr. Jannerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what has been the financial contribution, up to date, by Her Majesty's 15W Government towards the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Geneva ; and whether he will make a statement about the progress of that establishment and its future programme.
§ Mr. BevinsThe European Organisation for Nuclear Research was set up under a convention of July, 1953. The United Kingdom contribution to the programme is at present, 23.84 per cent., in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Protocol annexed to the convention. Her Majesty's Government have accordingly contributed £1,161,000 in the period from October, 1954, when the Organisation came into being, up to the end of September, 1956. A grant of £172,000 had previously been made to the interim organisation. Progress in building the laboratory and its machines is going according to schedule, and details of the programme and activities of the Organisation are contained in the published First Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library. The total cost of the laboratory during the construction period, and including the cost of research work and maintenance, is now provisionally expected to be not less than £18 million, as against the original estimate of £10 million.