§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy how much research he is supporting in conjunction with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority into laser fusion; and how this compares in terms of the deployment of resources with the work which he is supporting on magnetic containment.
§ Mr. EadieThe authority's current programme of fusion research, which is integrated with that of the European Community, is based mainly on the magnetic confinement approach. The cost of the programme in the year 1973–74 was£4.3 million, of which£.1.1 million was met by Euratom. As part of its fusion programme the authority has for some years maintained some effort on the development of high power lasers; the cost of this work in 1973–74 was£0.25 million. A future programme of basic research on laser compression, which the authority believes to be an essential foundation for progress towards the achievement of laser fusion, is at present under consideration by the authority.