---

Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the present level of expenditure on research and development into nuclear power; and what are the planned levels for 1996-97 and 1997-98.[21254] Mr. Eggar: The DIT's provision for funding nuclear research and development is set out in the annual Supply estimates published each March by HM Treasury. The estimates give details for the present and coming financial years only. Drawimg on the details given in the Supply estimates published in March 1995, the total provision for DTI funded nuclear research and development for 1994- 95 was £26,313,000 and for 1995-96 is £25,556,000. This includes provision for research and development work on safety and health, fusion, safeguards and also for research and development into decommissioning and radioactive waste management, which is listed separately in the estimates. Full details of nuclear research and development funding provision for 1996-97 will be published very shortly in the March 1996 Supply estimates. A similar level of funding for nuclear research and development is planned for 1997-98. These future plans were set out in "Trade and Industry 1995: the Government's expenditure plans for 1995-96 to 1997- 98", which was published in March 1995, Cm 2804. The majority of UK nuclear research and development into nuclear safety is carried out within a programme funded by the nuclear industry and co-ordinated by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission. In 1995-96, the budget for this programme is £26,300,000. The budget for 1996-97 is expected to be at a similar level.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21254; 274 c197-8W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Finance Expenditure Nuclear power Technology Research Science Nuclear physics

Contains statistics

Yes