HC Deb 18 February 1976 vol 905 c1275
11. Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common-wealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the December issue of the IAEA bulletin.

Mr. Ennals

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Cook

Has my right hon. Friend had an opportunity to consider the views expressed in that bulletin by Dr. Eklund, the Director General of the Agency, in which he suggests that the export of nuclear facilities should be confined to countries which are either parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty or which accept safeguards on all nuclear installations? Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that the Government will press this Agency view in the course of the discussions in the Nuclear Suppliers Group?

Mr. Ennals

Yes, I give that absolute assurance. As my hon. Friend knows, we have been full participants in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty Review Conference. Under Article 3(2) of the Non-Proliferation Treaty the United Kingdom and other countries may export source or special fissionable material to a non-nuclear weapon State only if that State has concluded a safe-guards agreement with IAEA. We shall press strongly both points raised by Dr. Eklund in that article.

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