§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the locations in the United Kingdom of all EEC research projects which are being undertaken at present; and if he will specify the work being done and the numbers employed.
§ Mr. LuceThe main Community research project in the United Kingdom is the Joint European Torus—JET—which is researching the production of energy from fusion, and which is established in Oxfordshire as a joint undertaking under the Euratom treaty. It is the largest single research project under the Community, and will represent £35 million, or roughly 15 per cent. of the Community estimated payments from the research budget in 1981. It currently has a staff of 270.
The European Commission is also responsible for implementing the research programmes agreed by member States, and for placing contracts with research establishments, universities and industry. There are a very large number of these, many of which are quite small. There is no comprehensive list available, while the details of some are also regarded as commercially confidential. We know that a large number are placed in the United Kingdom.