HC Deb 11 May 1988 vol 133 cc112-3W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central of 24 February,Official Report, column 240, if he will list the bodies and agencies for which Ministers are responsible which are to be involved directly or indirectly, in the physical protection of plutonium transported from Sellafield to Japan.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The police and other agencies will be involved as necessary.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what demand British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. expects for plutonium for the manufacture of fresh fuel for electricity generation in Japanese reactors from the mid 1990s.

Mr. Michael Spicer

This is a matter for BNFL and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what factors are taken into account apart from physical protection in assessing alternative forms of transport for exporting plutonium overseas.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Safety and physical protection are the two most important factors in assessing alternative forms of transport for exporting any nuclear material overseas. The cost of transporting the material must also be taken into account.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the countries which currently send spent Magnox fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing; how much plutonium has been returned to these countries; and how it was transported.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Japan and Italy currently send spent magnox fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing. Some 2½tonnes of plutonium from the reprocessing of such fuel has been returned to either the country of origin or, on the instructions of its owner, to a third country. The plutonium was transported by air or by sea in accordance with IAEA safety regulations.

Information relating to specific consignments is confidential for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether plutonium production ability was a factor in the choice of design for the advanced gas-cooled reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The choice of individual reactor design is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.