HC Deb 27 June 1973 vol 858 c346W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the use of nuclear heat for steelmaking in the United Kingdom; and to what extent British research compares with that in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Emery

The British Steel Corporation, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the OECD Dragon project, has, for some time, been examining the possible long-term application of very high temperature nuclear technology for steelmaking. The corporation is now playing a leading rôle in exploring the prospects for European collaboration and has been instrumental in drawing together international interests in steelmaking and nuclear plant manufacture to further this technology. The relevant research in the Federal Republic of Germany on this nuclear technology forms part of their general programme on high temperature reactors for electricity generation but there is in addition a high-temperature research facility using helium.