§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will now make available all those documents relating to the foundation of the United Kingdom civil nuclear programme withheld from public inspection for beyond a period of 30 years.
§ Mr. GoodladNo. The disclosure of such documents would be contrary to the national interest.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those matters relating to nuclear activities for which he is responsible on which it is his policy to withold information on the grounds of (a) national security, (b) commercial confidentiality, (c) history and (d) cost of provision, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladMy right hon. Friend has made clear his commitment to openness with respect to the nuclear industry. Requests for information are considered individually, taking into account the considerations listed by the hon. Member. A question would not, however, be answered when the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the total cost to date of research and development for the Magnox nuclear programme and the advanced gas cooled reactor nuclear programmes, and indicate the extent to which these costs were borne by the electricity boards.
§ Mr. GoodladThis information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On the Magnox programme I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Ashdown) of 23 July at column470.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the total weight of plutonium reprocessed at Sellafield originated from Central Electricity Generating Board installations, in the period 1970 to 1985.
93W
§ Mr. GoodladIt would not be in the national interest to disclose this information as this would assist the calculation of plutonium produced for defence purposes.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will review his Department's information programme in relation to nuclear energy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe Government wish to ensure that full and reliable information on the nature and uses of civil nuclear power is readily available to the public. Apart from its day-to-day press services, the Department provides funds for the UKAEA to prepare and publish a range of information about nuclear energy. This programme of expenditure by the UKAEA is reviewed periodically by the Department, as are all its expenditure programmes.