§ Mr. WarrenTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what advantages will be gained for United Kingdom fusion research by the planned reduction in programme funding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerFusion, like any other new technology, will need to win its place in competition with the other sources of energy expected to be available over the next century. On present prospects, we have decided that there is no justification for continuing as broad a programme of fusion research as we have had in the past. However, we are continuing to fund the most promising line of research in our own programme and have also agreed with our Community partners that we shall maintain the present level of support to JET, whose total expenditure is around £75 million a year, through to its scheduled completion in 1992.