HC Deb 12 December 1967 vol 756 cc81-2W
Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Technology if he will specify work outside the atomic field currently being undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority, showing the expenditure of public money involved in the current financial year of each major area of activity.

Mr. Benn

I tabulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 9th May, 1967, a list of the major areas of research outside the atomic field being undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority. Major projects started since then are Atmospheric Pollution, which will cost about £50,000 in the current year, Tribology, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, and Computer Software and Applications (Linesman Mediator), on which smaller amounts will be spent this year.—[Vol. 746, c.185.]

Mr. McGuire

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the total costs of the past work done by the Atomic Energy Authority for the advanced gas-cooled reactor series of nuclear stations; and why those costs are not being fully recovered in royalties.

Dr. Bray

The Authority's expenditure to 31st March, 1967, on the development of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor system amounted to £89 million. Whether a royalty of 0.014d. per unit will recover these costs in full depends on how many such stations are built and how much electricity they generate.

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