§ 43. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Technology what projects in the field of atomic energy research he is now supporting or sponsoring in conjunction with Euratom at present; if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total cost, the percentage of British financing involved and in which country 339W or countries research and development work is now being carried out for each respective project; and to what extent any of these joint projects are being delayed pending a decision on finance by Euratom.
§ Mr. Benn:We have no atomic energy project with Euratom exclusively. Euratom is a major partner in the Dragon High Temperature Reactor project. That project will continue at least until 31st December, 1968, now that Her Majesty's Government's offer to bear most of the cost next year has been accepted.
Detailed information about the Dragon is as follows: The total budget of the Dragon reactor project for the period 1st April, 1959 to 31st December, 1967, is £26.5 million, of which the United Kingdom and Euratom shares are 40.8 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively. The extension for the calendar year is expected to cost £2.1 million of which the United Kingdom will provide 86.6 per cent. on the basis described in my reply of 25th July to the hon. Member for Stockport, North. Research and Development work for the Dragon project is now being carried out in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America.—[Vol. 751, c99–100]