54. Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce a decision on the future level of British participation in CERN.
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§ Mr. WaldenWhen Sir John Kendrew, at the request of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and the Science and Engineering Research Council, undertook his review my right hon. Friend assured the Ministers responsible for CERN in the other member states that if we were to embark on any change in our relationship with CERN that would be done by due process and in consultation with them. In December I visited CERN, and subsequently consulted widely with other member states, on a United Kingdom proposal for a radical joint independent review of CERN and its future development. No member state has opposed a review in principle. Consultations continue; and the president, Professor W. Kummer, will convene an extraordinary session of the CERN council on 20 February to discuss the United Kingdom proposal. If the review goes ahead, my right hon. Friend's decision on the future level of British participation will be taken in the light of its report.