§ Mr. Albuasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the European projects for nuclear-powered ships with which Her Majesty's Government are associated.
§ Mr. MarplesThere are no European projects for nuclear-powered ships at present. A Study Group of the European Nuclear Energy Agency is considering three ship types, namely a 65,000 ton dwt. tanker, a 110 metre oceanographic research vessel and an 18,000 ton dwt. bulk carrier. The Study Group has commissioned technical studies of these ship types which are being carried out by international teams in the Netherlands, France and Sweden respectively, with a view to considering whether one of them would be suitable for a European nuclear ship project. Her Majesty's Government are co-operating in the work of the Study Group, although they are not directly represented on the study teams.