asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to encourage nuclear physics research in the universities.

I have been asked to reply.The D.S.I.R. makes grants to universities towards the cost of research in nuclear physics, and in the period April, 1946, to July, 1954, awards amounting to £1,621,700 were made for the construction of high-energy particle-accelerating machines. Grants of £747,200 have so far been made for running expenses in the period August, 1952, to July, 1957.