§ Mr. Masonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science to what extent firms subcontracting to the Atomic Energy Authority were involved in the research, development and production of beryllium as a fuel element material; which firms were involved in development of techniques and provision of facilities for the manufacture of materials and cans; and to what extent they were compensated 189W when the beryllium canning development was halted.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethContracts placed by the Atomic Energy Authority with industry accounted for about two-thirds of the total of approximately £10 million spent on research, development and production of beryllium as a fuel element canning material. The firms mainly involved in development of the techniques and the provision of facilities for the manufacture of materials and cans were: I.C.I Ltd., Whitworth-Gloster Aircraft Ltd., Murex Ltd., and Imperial Smelting Corporation Ltd. As a result of terminating the contracts for the production of beryllium components last year, about £500,000 became due and has been paid to the companies concerned.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science which firms are assisting the Atomic Energy Authority to develop and produce the stainless steelclad fuel elements for the advanced gas-cooled reactor.
Mr. Denzil-FreethIn addition to the three nuclear consortia, the firms are Jessop-Saville Ltd., Accles and Pollock Ltd., Fairey Engineering Ltd., H. M. Hobson Ltd, and Welding Components Ltd.