HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc18-9W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the non-nuclear work that is currently undertaken at Harwell and the percentage it represents of the total research work undertaken on the site of the nuclear establishment.

Mr. Norman Lamont

In 1979–80 about a quarter of the effort at Harwell was devoted to non-nuclear work, and the proportions for the current financial year are expected to be similar. This work is concerned with a wide range of technical problems brought to the laboratory by a variety of sponsors. Approximately 400 contracts were carried out for industry last year, including, for example, the development of materials for special purposes, and of instrumentation and inspection techniques, as well as work on advanced batteries and the efficient use of heat in process industries. Technical support is provided to the Department of Energy on the organisation and implementation of research into alternative energy sources and the development and demonstration of energy conservation projects. A detailed account is given in the annual report of the UKAEA.

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