§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future funding of nuclear physics by the Science and Engineering Research Council.
§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received about the future funding of the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. and learned Friend and I have received 120 representations about the nuclear structure facility at the Daresbury laboratory of the Science and Engineering Research Council.
As part of a review of all its future activities, the council decided on 6 February to make plans for the possible closure of the nuclear structure facility. To assist its further consideration of this issue, the council is establishing a study to assess the importance of the nuclear structure science in the context of the council's work as a whole.