§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the Energy, Research and Technology Committee of the European Parliament requesting him to explain his decision to end British support for the Dragon nuclear research project, sponsored by the EEC; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. BennI have received from Mr. Springorum, the Chairman of the European Parliament's Energy Research and Technology Committee, an invitation to appear before the Committee to give my point of view on the decision-making process which has led to a decision not to extend the OECD Dragon project. I am considering the matter, and will write to the hon. Member when I have replied to Mr. Springorum.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what financial contribution the United Kingdom is expected to make over the next two years towards the Dragon research project; what is now budgeted as a reduced United Kingdom contribution; and what is the total estimated EEC budget for the nuclear fusion collaborative research project.
§ Mr. BennThe United Kingdom's share of the cost of the proposed five-year extension of the OECD's Dragon project would have been approximately £4.6 million over the next two years. The project is not now expected to continue. The proposed Euratom thermonuclear fusion project, JET, is not related to Dragon. The Commission estimates that the Community contribution to JET will total £45 million over the next five years.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the budget projected by the EEC on the collaborative Dragon nuclear fusion research and development project is now expected to be spent in the United Kingdom, compared with what was anticipated before his decision to withdraw United Kingdom financial support.
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§ Mr. BennDragon is not an EEC nuclear fusion project; it is an OECD high temperature fission reactor experiment in which Euratom participates. I do not expect any of the EEC's projected budget for the Dragon project to be spent either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere since this was based on the further continuation of the project after 31st March 1976. Had the project continued, the Commission forecast that Euratom would spend nearly £15 million over the five years from 1st April 1976. Approximately £11 million of this would have been spent in the United Kingdom.