§ 98. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have applied nuclear propulsion to ships; and when and to what extent Britain will be in a position to do so.
§ Mr. T. G. D. GalbraithExcept for the United States nuclear submarines, I do not know that either country has yet successfully applied nuclear power to the propulsion of ships, though both countries are believed to be working to that end. With regard to the second part of the Question, the Admiralty has ordered equipment for a prototype of a reactor intended for use in submarines, and as recently announced the experimental reactor Neptune is now in successful operation.
As regards merchant ships, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 12th November.