§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will encourage the construction of a nuclear powered merchant ship having regard to the increased cost of oil fuel; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherThe increased cost of oil fuel obviously justifies re-examination of the possibilities of the nuclear powered merchant ship and I have arranged for the report on the subject issued by my Department in 1971 to be revised and updated. The new report should be available to interested parties shortly. I shall await their reactions before deciding whether to make a statement.