§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will ask the Council for Science and Technology to investigate the technical, economic, environmental and security status of plutonium used as a nuclear fuel. [35759]
§ Mr. BattleThere are currently no plans for the Council for Science and Technology to investigate the technical, economic, environmental and security status of plutonium. However, as the re-launched CST deliberates upon its future work programme, it will be open to the Council to consider this issue. It is for the owners of spent nuclear fuel, including plutonium, to choose their preferred management options subject to meeting the necessary environmental and regulatory requirements. It remains the responsibility of the Government to ensure that all civil plutonium continues to be subject to rigorous physical protection measures and safeguards in accordance with international non-proliferation obligations.