§ 10. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether any nuclear fuel has yet been supplied to Chile.
§ Mr. John MooreNo material has yet been delivered under the contract concluded last year between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Atomic Energy Commission of Chile.
§ Mr. DalyellAre the plans to supply Chile with nuclear fuel part of a trade-off worked out with General Matthai on his recent visit here, whereby Chile will help R class submarines, one of which went well south of Ascension after HMS Sheffield was sunk, and which may be called on again? Is it part of a trade-off with Chile?
§ Mr. MooreThat is absolute and complete rubbish. The basis of the relationship for the supply of nuclear materials to Chile relates back, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, to 1968, when the then Labour Government established the Anglo-Chilean nuclear treaty. The recent trade that we are talking about relates to indications from the Chilean Atomic Energy Authority in 1980 when it approached the UKAEA. Essential permissions were given by this country by March 1982, prior to the Falklands activity. It was only because the Government had to deal with the International Atomic Energy Authority, in terms of maintaing proper safeguards, that an announcement was not made until September, when the safeguard arrangements were completed. There is absolutely no truth in the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.