§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Technology what studies he has made of the capital and operating costs of a steam generating heavy water reactor of 200, 300, 450 and 600 MW(e) built in Scotland or Northern Ireland; and what is his estimate of the additional expendi- 226W ture arising because experience on water reactors in the United Kingdom is limited.
§ Dr. Ernest A. DaviesAs part of its work on the steam generating heavy water reactor the A.E.A. has carried out assessments (sometimes in conjunction with a generating board) of the capital and operating costs of a station using such a reactor at a number of sizes. Its conclusions have been made known to the generating boards and to the design and construction companies on which the prime responsibility for exploitation of the system now rests. I understand that these companies are taking these studies further. The design data used are fully supported by experience with the prototype reactor at Winfrith, and all costs likely to be incurred by the board concerned have been included in the assessments. Whether in a particular case a steam generating heavy water reactor would cost more or less than a gas-cooled reactor must depend on the circumstances of that case, e.g. size of station required, date of ordering.