§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have considered what further action they might take to strengthen the Safeguards System of the International Atomic Energy Agency which is designed to ensure that civil atomic energy facilities are used only for peaceful purposes.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, in pursuance of their general policy of helping to develop the Safeguards System of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Her Majesty's Government have decided, with the agreement of the Central Electricity Generating Board, to negotiate with the I.A.E.A. to apply safeguards to the Board's civil nuclear power station at Bradwell in Essex. Bradwell will be the largest installation in the world submitted to the international safeguards system to date. Her Majesty's Government hope that this initiative will encourage other countries to take similar steps, thus increasing the effectiveness of the safeguards system and supporting the efforts made within the United Nations to limit the spread of nuclear weapons.
§ LORD KENNETMy Lords, will the Government take whatever steps are open to them to publicise this excellent decision?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I hope that, now that this important decision has been made and announced, adequate publicity will indeed be given to it.