§ Sir J. Fletcher-Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration Her Majesty's Government are giving to the provision of further accelerator facilities at CERN; by what date decisions about these matters must be taken; what measure of agreement has been reached betwen the other participating countries with regard to the provision of these additional facilities; and whether he will make a statement indicating Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the addition of storage rings to the present accelerator, and the provision of the proposed new 300 GeV accelerator, respectively.
§ Mr. CroslandCERN has made two proposals for new facilities in Europe: the first for intersecting storage rings to be added to the existing 28 GeV machine at Geneva; the second for a 300 GeV accelerator to be built on a new site.
Most of the member States are anxious for early agreement to the proposal to add storage rings to the present 28 GeV machine. Her Majesty's Government are considering whether, within the funds likely to be available for scientific research, the United Kingdom should participate in the storage ring project whose 199W cost for the United Kingdom would increase by up to £1½ million a year, the present annual contribution to CERN of about £3 million.
The design study for the proposed 300 GeV accelerator is not yet complete and no need for a decision will arise for at least a year. To assist the study Her Majesty's Government have put forward for appraisal, but without commitment, a site near Mundford in Norfolk.