§ 30. Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the electricity supply industry trade unions; and whether he will discuss the future of Marchwood Engineering Laboratories and the other research and development activities of the boards.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMy right hon. Friend and I meet the electricity supply industry trade unions from time to time. The future of Marchwood Engineering Laboratories is a matter for the CEGB and its successor companies, which have said that the decision to vacate this site would have been the same, whichever successor company Marchwood had been allocated to. I have been assured that this will in no way prejudice essential research into nuclear safety matters, which will either be completed or transferred elsewhere before the site is closed.