HL Deb 09 March 1989 vol 504 cc1601-3

3.20 p.m.

Lord Hatch of Lusby asked Her Majesty's Government

Who is responsible for codifying the uranium ore concentrate imported into the United Kingdom.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy (Baroness Hooper)

My Lords, the Euratom authorities are responsible for assigning safeguard codings to uranium ore concentrate imported into this country.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, that Answer puzzles me. Does the noble Baroness remember that on 30th November last year she told the House: The Euratom authorities assign the appropriate coding according to the conditions imposed by the government of the supplying country at the time when the contract is signed".—[Official Report, 30/11/88; col 301–2.] Does that not indicate that whatever country supplies the uranium—in this case I am particularly interested in the supply of uranium from Namibia under South African direction—that country determines the code under which that uranium is supplied to this country?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the Euratom authorities assign the appropriate coding according to the conditions imposed by the government of the supplying country and, where no conditions are imposed, they apply an "N" coding.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, will the noble Baroness clarify a point regarding the re-export of uranium which is processed by British Nuclear Fuels? Is it the case that British Nuclear Fuels receives uranium ore concentrate from customers, processes it and re-exports it? If that is the case, does that mean that uranium which may be marked "N" could be processed in Britain and re-exported with a different codification?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I think that that is unlikely. BNFL certainly receives uranium from overseas customers for processing and re-export. The material is under Euratom safeguards while it is in this country and I therefore see no reason why the coding would be changed.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, is that also true of re-exports to the Soviet Union for whom British Nuclear Fuels does a great deal of processing?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I imagine so, but I shall certainly look into that matter.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, I can think of many things that one might do with concentrated uranium fuel, but how does one codify it?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I think that that question should more properly be directed to the Euratom authorities whose task it is. Nevertheless, the conditions are laid down and applied under the terms of the UK Euratom International Atomic Energy Authority Agreement which we entered into in 1978.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, will the noble Baroness tell the House whether it is the case that, when uranium is imported into this country, the codification can be changed by the Government of this country? I know that she said that they have no intention of changing it, but is it possible? Are they allowed to change it? Does it not destroy the Government's argument, as stated in both Houses, that no uranium has been imported for military purposes since 1973 if, during the intervening period, the uranium that has been imported can be used for military purposes should the Government so desire?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, as I said, it is not for the receiving country to change the restrictions under which the material is supplied. I can once again assure the noble Lord and the House that since 1973 no uranium ore has been delivered to the United Kingdom for defence purposes from any source.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, that is not the answer to my question. Will the Minister answer the question?

Noble Lords

Order, Order!

Lord Hatch of Lusby: My Lords, will the noble Baroness answer the question

is it within the British Government's power to change the codification at their own will of any uranium which they import?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I can perhaps repeat what I said on 30th November. As it is for the Euratom authorities to assign the appropriate coding according to the conditions imposed by the government of the supplying country at the time when the contract is signed, it is not for the United Kingdom Government to make any alteration to that coding.