§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the plans of Her Majesty's Government to co-operate with the French Government on the building of a new synchrotron in France; where it will be built; and what the cost to Her Majesty's Government will be.[124784]
§ Mr. ByersHer Majesty's Government have no plans to co-operate with the French Government on the building of a new synchrotron in France.
§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when discussions were last held concerning United Kingdom involvement in synchrotron investment in France; who was present at those discussions; and what was their content.[126439]
§ Mr. ByersThe issue of a possible French synchrotron was raised when my noble Friend the Minister for Science met with the French Minister for Research in Paris on the 5 May 2000. The discussions were of a general nature and in the context of the overall European requirement for large-scale scientific infrastructure. No specific proposals were discussed and no commitment was made concerning UK Government funding.
§ Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when were discussions last held with French representatives concerning French involvement in synchrotron investment in the United Kingdom; who was present at these discussions; and what their content was.[126440]
§ Mr. ByersThe last discussions concerning French involvement in the New Synchrotron project were held on the 22 May 2000 at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
67WThe discussions involved officials representing the three partners in the project and wide representation of the user communities. The discussions covered the detailed management arrangements to be put in place to take the project forward and a range of related technical issues.