§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with(a) ministerial colleagues and (b) British Nuclear Fuels concerning the provision of military protection for consignments of plutonium Mox fuel transported by ship to Japan from Sellafield. [70660]
§ Mr. SpellarResponsibility for the security of the MOX shipments rests with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who carried out consultations in the normal way. In accordance with international obligations, the MOX fuel will be carried in armed transport ships under the protection of specially trained officers of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary, UKAEAC. British Nuclear Fuels works with all relevant Government authorities on security issues. In this instance, the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency provided training for UKAEAC under a commercial agreement.