Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy,Official Report, 14 June, columns 122–123 whether the European Commission report to which he makes reference has now been published; what was the basis on which he came to the understanding that no breach of the ECC safeguards regime had taken place; and what steps he took to reach the conclusion that the investigation was thorough.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe European Commission report has not yet been published. On the question of lack of breach of EEC safeguards I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 10 February 1988 at column234.
The commission investigation has involved numerous visits by a team of experts to nuclear installations, site inspections, round table discussions and examination of records. We see no reason to doubt its thoroughness.