§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there are enough supplies of uranium to service the British nuclear programme; whether there will be reserves of uranium before oil resources are exhausted; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI am advised that potential world uranium supplies, from countries outside those with centrally-planned economies, are expected to be sufficient to meet the requirements of currently planned power programmes. Currently available information on the size and quality of the United Kingdom's indigenous resources of uranium is inadequate to determine whether and when these could be economically produced. I am satisfied that the British civil uranium procurement organisations procurement policies are appropriate and should ensure the continued availability of uranium for the United Kingdom nuclear power programme.