§ Mr. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central on Monday 6 April, he will list the amount of plutonium which has been exported, the countries to which it has been exported, and the purpose for which those countries imported it.
§ Mr. Norman LamontSince 1971, 1,280 kg. of plutonium produced in the United Kingdom have been exported for civil purposes. The countries to which plutonium has been exported, in consignments larger than gram quantities, are as follows:
- Belgium
- France
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Switzerland
- Japan
- United States of America
In addition, 1,930 kg. of plutonium has since 1971 been exported and returned to BNFL's overseas customers, or to a country nominated by an overseas customer. This plutonium was derived from irradiated fuel imported and reprocessed by BNFL under contract. Ownership of this material at no time passed to BNFL. The countries to which such plutonium has been exported in consignments larger than gram quantities, are as follows:
- Belgium
- Canada
- France
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- United States of America
All the above material was exported for civil use, principally for research and development on fast reactor programmes or on the recycling of plutonium in thermal reactors. All the countries listed, with the exception of France, a nuclear weapon State, are signatories of the non-proliferation treaty. All nuclear material in non-nuclear weapon States party to the treaty is subject to IAEA safeguards.