Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 November 1973.
Mr Arthur Palmer
, Bristol Central
12:00,
19 November 1973
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations have been made by the Nuclear Power Advisory Board on the choice of reactors for the next stage of the nuclear power programme.
Mr Peter Walker
, Worcester
The Nuclear Power Advisory Board has not yet made any recommendation on this subject.
Mr Arthur Palmer
, Bristol Central
In view of the possibility that American light water reactors may be recommended, will the right hon. Gentleman say when the board will be meeting? In view of the vast public investment in this business, will the reports of the board be made available to the House of Commons?
Mr Peter Walker
, Worcester
The Nuclear Power Advisory Board is a body which gives advice to me, and its advice is given in confidence. I shall be the Minister responsible for the decision. The board is having regular meetings at the moment—there is to be a further meeting this week, and there will be other meetings between now and the end of the year—and I hope to come to my conclusions on this topic probably somewhere about the end of January or the beginning of February.
Mr Tony Benn
, Bristol South East
As a decision to buy American reactors would be taken by the whole community as a major political act which would require the fullest possible discussion in the House before a final conclusion was reached, not only because of the effect on British industry but because of the safety factors involved, may we have an assurance that the Minister will put the facts upon which he would be reaching a decision before the House for debate before he himself reaches the final political decision?
Mr Peter Walker
, Worcester
There are plenty of opportunities for the House to debate this matter. The choice of reactor is a highly technical subject, and, of course, a major decision is involved for British industry. I assure the House that, before I come to a decision, I shall give the House a detailed explanation of it. At the end of the day, a decision in this sphere must be a Government decision. Whether the House will wish to reject that decision is a matter for the House, but I give an assurance that I shall make available to the House the detailed basis upon which I come to my decision.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
