§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial support is being given to British Nuclear Fuels Limited for gas centrifuge collaboration.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe Government have undertaken to provide financial support to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. for the collaboration with the Netherlands and West Germany on exploitation of the gas centrifuge process for enriching uranium. The collaboration is being carried out under the agreement signed between the three Governments in March 1970. The support to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. will take the form of payments to meet 80 per cent. of the cost to the company of participation in the initial programme during which centrifuge386W demonstration plants will be built. The agreement between the Department of Trade and Industry and the company provides for repayment to the Department, out of profits earned from subsequent commercial exploitation of the centrifuge process, of the total sum advanced and thereafter for the Department to take a continuing share of the profits for a stated period.