§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is now taking, in the light of uncertainty by the Council of Energy Ministers of which he is Chairman, to reach a decision on the location of the Joint European Torus fusion research programme, to ensure that fusion research continues as part of the energy programme of this country, and that the team in Culham is given an interim assignment and is kept intact.
§ Mr. EadieThe discussions with my European colleagues to which my right 165W hon. Friend referred in the answer that he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 26th January—[Vol. 924, c. 6351—are being followed up urgently by my officials, All fusion work in this country forms part of the Euratom fusion programme and its continuation is not dependent on JET. The Community's JET design team at Culham has been allocated further funds by the Council and contracts of team members are being extended to June 1977.