HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 cc692-3W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the international proliferation implications of MOX fuel shipments. [73212]

Mr. Battle

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 2 December 1997,Official Report, column 122.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the accessibility of the plutonium in MOX fuel contained in BNFL shipments to Japan for the purposes of making nuclear weapons. [73211]

Mr. Battle

The process by which MOX fuel is made combines the uranium and plutonium in such a way that separation by physical means is not possible. To recover plutonium from MOX fuel would require a chemical separation process requiring complex and highly specialised plant, equipment and skills. Very stringent physical protection and safeguards measures are applied to MOX fuel at all times to prevent its theft or diversion.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between his Department and(a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Ministry of Defence on the proposed shipments of plutonium to Japan by BNFL. [73210]

Mr. Battle

Responsibility within Government for the security of MOX shipments rests with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Consultations between DTI and other Government Departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, have continued in the normal way.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Japanese to take ownership and control of the materials involved in the proposed shipment of plutonium to Japan; and what agencies are involved in overseeing these shipments. [73209]

Mr. Battle

The MOX fuel, which is already owned by the Japanese utilities, will come under the control of the Government of Japan on arrival at the port of entry. For the UK Government, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions deals with the safety of movements of nuclear materials carried out by the UK, while my Department handles security issues associated with these shipments.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons armed vessels with armed escorts are required to accompany shipments of MOX fuel and other nuclear material from BNFL to its overseas customers. [73562]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 26 February 1999] I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 18 February 1999, Official Report, columns 364–65.

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent to which the production and export of MOX fuel and other nuclear materials which will be returned to BNFL's overseas customers after reprocessing are consistent with the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. [73561]

Mr. Battle

[holding answer 26 February 1999] I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 9 December 1997, Official Report, column 528.