UKAEA: boom or bust

The future of the UKAEA is considered in the light of present government policies concerning nuclear power generation. Energy forecasts are drastically lower and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the industry has led to the loss of key staff. It is felt that it is urgent to identify the resources and skills that are specific to nuclear design and engineering and to examine how they can best be organised and retained and that this problem must have precedence over the fast reactor question. The assurance of a future role which is nationally and personally worthwhile will remove much of the uncertainty for the scientists and will make it less likely that a breeder is built for the wrong reason. (UK)