§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been their response to the communication from the Electrical Power Engineers' Association warning the Government that their support for the nuclear energy programme could be jeopardised if plutonium exported to the United States of America is used for military purposes, and what action has been taken by them to prevent its use, directly or indirectly, to benefit the United States of America defence programme.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleMy department has not received any communication from the EPEA. I have,1154WA however, seen a copy of a resolution passed at their annual conference, urging the CEGB to make known its intention to maintain as clearly as possible the distinction between civil and military uses of nuclear materials. The Government share the union's concern that this distinction between the civil and military uses of plutonium should be maintained. On the specific question of the possible export of civil plutonium to the United States, this remains no more than a proposal under examination by the two Governments. There have been no commercial negotiations and there is no agreement at either intergovernmental or commercial level to go ahead with the proposal.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past ten o'clock.