§ 81. Mr. de Freitasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement on the agreement between 12 European countries to set up an organisation for nuclear research in Geneva.
§ Mr. MolsonThe Convention for the establishment of a European Organisation for Nuclear Research was signed in Paris on 1st July, 1953, by a representative of Her Majesty's Government. It provides for collaboration in fundamental research in that part of the field of nuclear physics concerned with very high energy particles. The Organisation proposes to build a laboratory near Geneva equipped with accelerators for producing such particles. The results of the research will be published or otherwise made publicly available.
So far 10 countries have signed the Convention, and two other countries are expected to sign very soon. The Convention comes into force when it has been signed and ratified by a specified number of States. It is hoped that the new Organisation will begin its work early in 1954. The Text of the Convention will be laid before Parliament for the customary 21 working days before it is ratified.