§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to the proposal by the EEC Commission to make a formal commitment to fast breeder reactors and nuclear waste reprocessing within the Community.
§ Mr. BennI have made it clear in the Council of Ministers that it is for member States to make decisions about their nuclear programmes, not for the Community. Parliament decided in favour of spent fuel reprocessing following the report of the Windscale Inquiry, and the Government have undertaken that any decision to build a commercial demon-186W stay, all the overseas visits made by civil servants at permanent secretary or equivalent level in his Department over the past three years.
§ Mr. BennThe following information relates to two officers at Permanent Secretary or equivalent level in my Department:
stration fast reaction shall be subject to a wide-ranging public inquiry. A formal commitment within the Community would be incompatible with such a decision-making regime.