§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Minister of Technology whether he has now estimated the effect upon the British nuclear power industry and the possible sale under licence agreements of British power reactor systems, research reactors and associated equipment, by any renewed application by Great Britain to join the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. BennThe effects upon the British nuclear power industry and the possible sale under licence agreements of British power reactor systems, research reactors and associated equipment of entry by the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community will depend upon the terms on which such entry is effected.
§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to publicise through the media of embassies and agencies overseas the achievements of the United Kingdom in the exploitation of nuclear energy for industrial pur- 352W poses; in which countries the United Kingdom has appropriate scientific and technical staffing and sales assistance; and what proposals he will make to promote still further the efforts of the British Nuclear Export Executive.
§ Mr. BennMy Department, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, and the Atomic Energy Authority, are continuing to take active steps to ensure that Embassies and Agencies abroad are fully briefed about United Kingdom achievements in the nuclear field through the provision of information and through appropriate specialist visits and that they are thus in an effective position to promote the interests of the British nuclear industry.
In addition, the industrial members of the British Nuclear Export Executive have their own commercial agents and contacts abroad. The question of what further efforts could be made to promote the interests of the British nuclear industry is one which is being taken into account in the discussions with the consortia to which I referred to in my reply of 28th February to the hon. Member for mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings), and which are not yet concluded. [Vol. 742, c. 237–8.]
There are at present representatives of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in Belgium, Canada, Finland, Japan and the United States.
There are Scientific Counsellors in Washington, Paris, Stockholm, Bonn, Moscow and Tokyo, who can be called on for scientific and technical advice.