§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government has to support research and development in the nuclear industry. [125581]
§ Mr. TimmsDirect DTI funding of fission research stopped in 1994 with the cessation of the fast reactor programme and there is none included in current DTI spending plans for the next three years. DTI funding is reviewed annually and will be considered next as part of the 2004 Spending Review, which covers the period 2005–08. The UK nuclear industry currently benefits from Government support for EU and OECD coordinated research programmes.
The Research Councils received funding from spending review 2002 for a research programme "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy" which includes proposals to establish a National Energy Research Network and UK Energy Research Centre. A Scientific Advisory Committee has been established to advise the Councils on the emphasis and scope of the programme and of the Centre. It is however envisaged that the National Energy Research Network would cover a broad range of energy research. In addition, the Research Councils provide funding in the region of £16 million a year for fusion research.