asked the Minister for Energy what discussions he has had with his EEC colleagues about proposals for the development of uranium enrichment plant capacity within the Community ; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Ministers of the European Communities set up in May 1973 a Permanent Committee on Uranium Enrichment (COPENUR). This committee issued a report in November 1973 which indicated that it was unable to arrive at a unanimous view on the strategy to be employed for the development of a European enrichment plant capacity. The Commission of the European Communities put proposals on enrichment to the Council of Ministers which has not yet met to discuss them.The United Kingdom was represented at the discussions of the Permanent Committee, and is studying the Commission's proposals in readiness for discussions on them in due course. Meanwhile, in collaboration with Germany and Holland, the United Kingdom is vigorously pursuing the tripartite centrifuge project, with the intention of having an installed capacity of 2,000 tonnes per annum in 1980.