asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is ready to announce a new chairman for the National Nuclear Corporation.

I am pleased to say that Mr. Denis Rooney, an executive vicechairman of BICC Ltd., has agreed to take up the chairmanship of the National Nuclear Corporation in succession to Lord Aldington. The formal appointment will run from 1 July. Meanwhile, he is joining the NNC board as a director and will devote as much time as possible to NNC affairs. I would like to pay tribute again to Lord Aldington's unstinted service to the nuclear industry over the last seven years.