HC Deb 14 January 1964 vol 687 cc3-4W
Brigadier Clarke

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science (1) what is the extent of the Government's Marine Reactor Research Programme and the current total expenditure;

(2) how much money was allocated for nuclear marine research; and how much of this sum of money remains.

Mr. Hogg

The programme has covered research into, or studies of, a number of reactor systems and their variants, both British and American, as well as the joint Vulcain project undertaken with Belgonucleaire.

Expenditure on the programme from November, 1961, to the beginning of this year was about £3 million which was the sum allocated for that purpose. Work is continuing on approximately the same scale.

Brigadier Clarke

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science how much money has been allocated to research into the nuclear marine reactor design put forward by Belgonucleare Vulcain system; and how much money has so far been expended on this project.

Mr. Hogg

The costs of the collaborative programme on Vulcain, which the Atomic Energy Authority share equally with Belgonucleaire, are the subject of an agreement which, for commercial reasons, is confidential to both parties.