§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what quantities of plutonium originated at the Hunterston Magnox reactors have been exported to the United States under the 1958 mutual defence agreement on atomic energy, as amended in 1959.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerPlutonium produced in the generating boards' Magnox reactors was consigned to the United States before 1971 under the United States/United Kingdom defence agreement and, as stated by the then Prime Minister on 21 April 1964 at columns 1097-98, has been used by the United States for civil purposes. Because of the barter arrangements under which plutonium was consigned, it would not be in the national interest to publish the figures.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportions of the plutonium created in the Magnox reactors at Hunterston since they were commissioned are now(a) still at the reactor site in spent fuel, (b) at Sellafield in unreprocessed spent fuel, (c) in separate form in store at Sellafield, (d) re-used in the United Kingdom civil or research nuclear fuel, (e) exported under safeguards and (f) exported without safeguards.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI refer the hon. Member to the annual plutonium figures published by my Department on 13 October 1988, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to ensure that provision for the privatisation of present Electricity Board Magnox reactors includes assurances that no plutonium owned by or created in reactors operated by private companies can be used for military purposes under any circumstances, including those encompassed by national security requirements.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerFollowing privatisation, plutonium will continue to be handled as securely as it is at present. All existing controls on the export and transport of nuclear material will continue to apply. In addition, all civil nuclear material will continue to remain subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement. The Government have no plans to transfer any of this material to defence use.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how often the Central Electricity Generating Board provides information on the isotopic quality of its plutonium to Euratom.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerInformation on the isotopic composition of plutonium contained in CEGB irradiated fuel is reported to Euratom at the beginning of the month following its dispatch from the power station concerned.
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§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what physical verification of plutonium is conducted by Euratom safeguards inspectors at the material balance area 3 at British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Sellafield.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe main elements of the safeguards inspection arrangements for Sellafield agreed with Euratom were given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Maclean) on 4 June 1986 at columns594-95.