HC Deb 24 November 1992 vol 214 cc617-8W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals Her Majesty's Government will make to the forthcoming EC Energy Council concerning the ALTENER and SAVE programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

At the Council my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade intends to recommend that the terms of the ALTENER decision are politically agreed and that consideration of the SAVE directive, relating to non-traded goods, should continue. Final adoption of either item is not possible until after the European Parliament's opinion has been received.

Dr. Howells

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the amounts and specific sources of European-sourced funding received by(a) the fast reactor programme and (b) the Atomic Energy Authority fusion programme in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

Mr. Eggar

The UK programme in support of the European fast reactor collaboration does not receive any funds from European sources. The AEA's fusion programme receives support from Euratom as part of the AEA's contract of association with Euratom. In 1991–92 the contribution was £3.9 million and in 1992–93 it is expected to be in the order of £2.4 million.

Dr. Howells

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the level of Government funding for 1992–93 and 1993–94 to(a) the fast reactor programme and (b) the Atomic Energy Authority fusion programme.

Mr. Eggar

1992–93, provision for the fast reactor and fusion programmes is set out in the Supply estimates for 1992–93, class V, vote 2, section D, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. For 1993–94 the allocation of funds for individual nuclear research and development programmes has yet to be determined.

Dr. Howells

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed in each site currently(a) on the fast reactor programme and (b) on the Atomic Energy Authority fusion programme.

Mr. Eggar

This is a management matter for the AEA. I am asking the chairman of the AEA to write to the hon. Member.