§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international representations Her Majesty's Government have received from non-governmental organisations and individuals regarding potential proliferation and safety risks posed by the thermal oxide reprocessing plant facility at Sellafield.
§ Mr. YeoI have been asked to reply.
Many of the responses from outside the United Kingdom to the public consultation on the draft authorisations for the Sellafield site mentioned these issues.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international security factors are to be taken into account in Her Majesty's Government's consideration of whether or not to commission the thermal oxide reprocessing plant for the manufacture of commercial domestic plutonium for sale in world markets.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggIn accordance with the House of Commons resolution of 28 June, Her Majesty's1000W Governemnt has confidence in the non-proliferation arrangements that underlie THORP's work for overseas customers. Such arrangements include our obligations and those of our customers under the non-proliferation treaty and the nuclear suppliers group guidelines. We would allow the export of plutonium from reprocessing only if we had received satisfactory assurances that it would be used only for peaceful, non-explosive purposes.
All shipments of plutonium from the United Kingdom will meet international requirements on safety, physical protection and safeguards for such exports.