HC Deb 19 March 1963 vol 674 cc24-5W
23. Mr. Matthews

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science on what basis the decisions to concentrate research and development on the integral boiling reactor and the Vulcain reactor were arrived at; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

Both the Vulcain and the Integral Boiling Reactor system are compact designs which yield a number of economic advantages compared with others considered. They require a smaller space in the ship, can be built in workshops on land and installed in a ship as a packaged unit. This should simplify the building of the vessel and enable a quicker turn-round for refuelling. Both systems are thought to have potentially lower running costs than the other systems examined so far.