Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what discussions she has held with her counterparts in the (a) French, (b) Russian and (c) Chinese governments about the proposal to site a nuclear fusion reactor in the South of France; and what assessment she has made of the opportunities that such a proposal would afford to the British nuclear industry. -

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has held with her counterparts in the (a) French, (b) Russian and (c) Chinese Governments about the proposal to site a nuclear fusion reactor in the South of France; and what assessment she has made of the opportunities that such a proposal would afford to the British nuclear industry. [198731] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The European Commission is negotiating with the international partners on behalf the member states. Official level discussions have taken place with the international fusion community on what the ITER (International Tokamak Experimental Reactor) programme might entail. UKAEA, which manages the UK fusion programme, facilitates links between UK industry and ITER. This includes raising awareness of potential opportunities and informing the ITER design engineers of UK companies whose goods and services may be useful.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 198731; 426 c1934W;426 c1939W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: China France Nuclear power Location Russia Nuclear reactors Nuclear fusion Fusion reactors
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk