HC Deb 14 July 1958 vol 591 cc68-9W
Mr. Mason

asked the Paymaster-General, in view of the fact that eight nuclear reactors will soon be producing plutonium at Chapel Cross and Calder Hall, to what extent it is still necessary to continue with the full programme announced by Her Majesty's Government to secure more high grade plutonium from atomic power stations planned purely for peaceful purposes.

Sir I. Horobin

The modification of certain civil nuclear power stations to enable military plutonium to be extracted should the need arise is only a precautionary measure designed to provide an insurance against the possibility that more plutonium might be needed than could be obtained from the eight reactors at Chapel Cross and Calder Hall.