§ 59. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the reactor for use in an experimental nuclear-powered ship; and if he will give an assurance that the finance for the hull will be forthcoming from his Department.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettI am advised that if all continues to go well with the research programme it should be possible on technical grounds to choose by the end of this year the type of reactor which would be installed in a prototype nuclear ship.
The Government have taken no decisions about financing a ship. We want to see what propositions shipowners and shipbuilders put forward, and that is why we have begun discussions with them in good time.