HC Deb 15 February 1963 vol 671 cc239-40W
Brigadier Clarke

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of recent changes in policy in regard to nuclear-powered merchant ships, he will now give further consideration to building nuclear surface ships for the Royal Navy.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The Admiralty has at present no plans for building a nuclear-powered surface vessel, but is keeping in close touch with the latest developments and applying the knowledge gained from them to studies of possible future warships. There has in fact been no change in my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport's policy which should give us cause to change our plans, but merely a logical step forward in the continuing policy of developing surface nuclear propulsion as an economic proposition.