§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Government regarding the collaborative arrangements for funding the new DIAMOND synchrotron at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; and, if so, when they expect to conclude the negotiations and publish the outcome. [HL200]
95WA
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe United Kingdom and the French Governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on DIAMOND, the new UK synchrotron. It is not customary to publish such documents.
§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, and, if so, how, the negotiations on French participation in DIAMOND are affected by the decision of the French Government to build their own synchrotron at Orsay. [HL201]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe negotiations are not affected.
§ Baroness Sharp of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they expect to collaborate in the synchrotron project at Orsay; and, if so, what financial commitment this might involve. [HL202]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe UK Government intend that there will be strong technical co-operation between the UK Synchrotron project, DIAMOND, and French SOLEIL project planned for Saclay over the next period while both machines are in development. Any UK involvement in SOLEIL beyond this phase will depend on the future needs of the UK scientific community. This will require thorough assessment before any financial commitment is made.