HC Deb 15 June 1977 vol 933 c183W
Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he now expects a decision on the siting of the Joint European Torus research project; and what arrangements are being provided to continue financing the JET design team at Culham after the end of June 1977.

Mr. Eadie

The Government attach great importance to reaching an early decision on the site for JET. Since the research council on 29th-30th March we have, as Presidency, progressed the matter urgently in the Council's working groups and in bilateral consultations. Considerable progress has been made in narrowing remaining differences and we hope, therefore, that it will soon be possible to bring the matter before a Council. If discussions on the site are still in progress at the end of June, we hope that the Commission will again extend the contracts of employment of the design team. Its basic salaries are paid by its parent organisations.