§ 48. Sir P. Robertsasked the Prime Minister what further action Her Majesty's Government proposes to take to ensure that the Euratom Commission, through the Euratom agency, will guarantee to buy British nuclear fuel in the event of the purchase of British nuclear power stations to be erected in any of the Euratom Treaty countries.
Mr. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
The agreement under negotiation with the Euratom Commission is likely to contain similar provisions to those in the agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Italian Government, which provides for the supply of fuel by the United Kingdom and for assistance in the manufacture of fuel elements in Italy in due course.
The rôle of the Euratom supply agency is one of the points to be taken into account in our negotiations with the Euratom Commission. The Commission has assured us that it does not intend to impose any obstacles to the development of nuclear power in its member countries, which it is its object to promote by all possible means.
§ Sir P. RobertsWhile being grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply which I think, as far as I can follow it, is a satisfactory one, may I ask him 1436 whether Her Majesty's Government propose to have a closer technical association with the Euratom Commission?
Mr. ButlerI am glad that my hon. Friend's apprehension is so acute and I hope our contact will be close.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhat guarantee will there be in the agreement that military plutonium to be extracted will be returned here?