§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the intended use of ZETA for energy purposes.
§ Mr. EadieThe experimental facility ZETA itself was superseded a few years ago in the course of continuing research by the UKAEA into thermonuclear fusion, which is now within the framework of an EEC programme. This programme shows steady progress. Fusion is potentially an important source of energy in the long term, but it is not generally expected that it will contribute to meeting energy needs before the end of this century.