HC Deb 23 July 1962 vol 663 cc928-9
5. Mr. Warbey

asked the Minister of Power to what extent the future production of special fissile materials from nuclear reactors owned by, or coming into the ownership of, the Central Electricity Generating Board is earmarked for defence purposes.

Mr. Wood

Under the arrangements between the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Atomic Energy Authority, nuclear fuel, after irradiation in the reactors at nuclear power stations, is returned to the Authority, who alone are empowered to extract special fissile materials from it.

Mr. Warbey

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how, if we enter Euratom, it will become possible to distinguish between fissile materials such as plutonium, which are reserved for defence purposes, and those which are reserved for peaceful purposes, such as for the fast breeder reactors, in view of the fact that the Agency will become the sole owners of these special fissile materials?

Mr. Wood

The negotiations will have to be very much further advanced before I could answer the hon. Gentleman's question. In any event, I think that the information is probably secret and, there-fore, I should not be able to answer the hon. Gentleman's question anyhow.

Mr. Warbey

That reply is nonsense. Why are we proposing to enter Euratom at all? If we go in, the Government will have to disclose its stocks of special fissile materials—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Can we get nearer to the interrogatory in this speech?

Mr. Warbey

How do the Government propose to comply with the articles of the Euratom Treaty which require that we shall make over to the Euratom Agency the ownership of special fissile materials?

Mr. Wood

The hon. Gentleman will have seen the statement of my right hon. Friend. I think the negotiations will have to be very much further advanced before we can reach any conclusion about these matters.