§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects agreement on the site for the European thermonuclear fusion research project; and if work now proceeding at Culham would continue to receive his support at the projected levels if no joint European programme is agreed.
§ Mr. BennWith the exception of the Joint European Torus, the Community five-year fusion programme 1976–80 was agreed by the Council of Ministers (Research) on 15th February 1976, when funding for 1976 was released: funding for the last four years was released by the Council on 18th November. The ongoing work at Culham forms part of the agreed programme. We will endeavour to secure the earliest possible agreement on the JET project and its site when we assume the Presidency of the Council in January 1977, but I cannot forecast when a consensus will be reached.
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§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy if contracts for preliminary research work on the joint European thermonuclear fusion project, now under way at Culham, will be renewed, pending a decision on the future of a collaborative programme.
§ Mr. BennThe Commission has proposed a supplementary agreement to extend the JET design agreement for a further period. This would permit preliminary work to continue. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is ready to sign the supplementary agreement.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the reasons why the meeting of EEC research Ministers has been adjourned without an agreement on the siting of the joint European thermonuclear fusion project.
§ Mr. BennThe Council of Ministers (Research) which was planned for 20th December 1976 was cancelled by the President of the Council on 17th December, after consultations with member States because he judged that there was no chance of agreement this year on the site for the joint European thermonuclear fusion project.