HC Deb 16 December 1986 vol 107 c473W
Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide in tabular form details of the gross imports of highly enriched uranium from each foreign source for civil purposes, and the gross exports of highly enriched uranium to each foreign country; and if he will give separate figures in each case for highly enriched uranium of an enrichment of 4.20 per cent., and highly enriched uranium of an enrichment of greater than 20 per cent.

Mr. Goodlad

High enriched uranium is defined by Euratom and by the International Atomic Energy Agency as uranium enriched to 20 per cent. or more in the isotope H-235. This definition is used in the United Kingdom. Since May 1979, transfers of high enriched uranium in larger than gram quantities have been:

Kg
Imports 286
Exports 1,356

These amounts include about 150kg temporarily held in transit in the United Kingdom. The following countries have been involved in transactions totalling more than 1kg:

Imports

  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • Netherlands
  • United States of America
  • Japan

Exports

  • Australia
  • Chile
  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • France
  • United States of America
  • Venezuela

Details relating to individual countries cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

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