HC Deb 27 June 1956 vol 555 cc488-90
53. Mr. Stokes

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been called to the agreement signed in Washington on 14th June with regard to the exchange of atomic information between the United States of America and the United Kingdom, which includes information concerning submarines driven by atomic energy; and whether he will now make further representations to the United States Government with a view to obtaining a supply of enriched uranium for use in weapons built in this country.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes"; to the second part "No, Sir". The Agreement of June, 1955, to which the recent Agreement is an amendment, specifically excludes military materials.

Mr. Stokes

I know, but is the Lord Privy Seal aware that once one is in possession of enriched uranium, the next step to making a war weapon is comparatively simple? A few moments ago the right hon. Gentleman told us that we are to supply enriched uranium to Germany which, I gather from his evasive answer, will probably come from the United States. That being so, and in view of the fact that it is in short supply here, why should we go on spending almost as much money in competing with our friends as in protecting ourselves against our enemies? Surely it is a ridiculous position.

Mr. Butler

The right hon. Gentleman started his supplementary question by saying that he knew and ended by saying that it was a ridiculous position. I should like to put those two remarks together in his own mouth, because from the Government point of view it is not a ridiculous position. We have signed an Agreement with the United States to obtain this exchange for the purpose to which I have referred in my Answer, and we cannot extend the Agreement beyond the supplementary Agreement which has been made.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask whether none of the enriched uranium procured from the United States is to be sent on to Germany?

Mr. Butler

I should want specific notice in order to give the right hon. Gentleman an exact reply to that question.

Sir J. Hutchison

Is it a fact, as has been insinuated from the benches opposite, that we are in short supply in respect of either uranium or enriched uranium? Are we likely to be in short supply in respect of enriched uranium in the future?

Mr. Butler

As we have to look so far ahead for prospective programmes, I could not give an absolutely accurate reply to that question.