§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional measures are being taken to protect plutonium MOX fuel in transit from Sellafield in pursuit of the fulfilment of the commitment made by EU member states on page 39, paragraph 5 of the presidency conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council. [122279]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Presidency Conclusions of the Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 include a declaration on tackling the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Government are satisfied that the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation arising from the manufacture of MOX fuel in the UK and its export to Europe and Japan is negligible. The Government's independent civil nuclear security regulator, the DfT's Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), is responsible for approving arrangements for ensuring the security of MOX fuel during transport. OCNS is satisfied that the arrangements in place for the transport of MOX fuel are amply robust to deal with any potential threats. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken in respect of civil nuclear materials beyond those already published in the Director of Civil Nuclear Security's annual reports made available in the Libraries of the House.