HC Deb 24 June 1998 vol 314 cc498-9W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie), of 2 June 1998,Official Report, column 162, if she will indicate the differences in information reported on civil plutonium under the new arrangements as against previous practice. [46811]

Mr. Battle

The key differences are:

  1. (i) Information under the new format is now reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and circulated to Member States by the Agency, in keeping with the requirements of the 'Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium'. These figures, which show holdings of plutonium at 31 December instead of at 31 March each year, are more widely distributed than before.
  2. (ii) The new format provides clearer information on holdings of plutonium in various forms in a way which facilitates international comparisons on a consistent basis.
  3. (iii) Separate information is now published on the amount of plutonium held in the United Kingdom on behalf of foreign customers.
  4. (iv) Information relating to reactor discharges and dispatches by site, and to exports and imports of plutonium, is no longer being published.