§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial support he intends to give to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for research and development work into the civil use of the fusion reaction over the next five years; and when, on the basis of current knowledge, he expects to be able to place an order for two prototype civil fusion reactors for the generation of electricity for the national grid.
§ Mr. EadieResearch into controlled thermonuclear fusion as a means of generating electricity is carried out by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority within the framework of a European Community programme extending to the end of 1975. Cash expenditure by the authority, net of a contribution 87W by the Community, is expected to be about £3 million in the current financial year and rather more in 1974–75. The level of expenditure thereafter will be decided in the light of progress both in Europe and elsewhere.
A controlled thermonuclear reaction producing a net output of energy has not yet been demonstrated on a laboratory scale in any country, although steady progress is being made. It is, therefore, very difficult to estimate when fusion power reactors might be ordered, but it seems unlikely that prototype reactors capable of generating significant quantities of electricity for the national grid will be ordered much before the end of the century.