§ Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government have reached a decision on the future level of United Kingdom expenditure on nuclear fusion research.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanLast year the Atomic Energy Authority set up a panel under the chairmanship of Sir Harrie Massey to review the programme of research into controlled thermonuclear fusion as a means of generating electricity. The panel concluded that rapid scientific progress had been made since the previous review in 1966; that there was now general confidence that the long term objective would be attained; and that Culham retained a high reputation for its research. It recommended that the authority's programme should continue at a somewhat higher level of expenditure; that it should form part of a collaborative European programme; and that a large experimental assembly should be built at Culham. The Government have now agreed to continuation of the programme during the next three years at a higher level of effort on the lines recommended by the panel. The Atomic Energy Auth-190W ority expects shortly to conclude a contract of association with the European Commission under which the Commission will meet part of the cost of fusion research at Culham. The authority's programme will be co-ordinated with those in other countries of the European Community.