§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Power, following the theft of £8,000 worth of nuclear fuel cores from Bradwell power station, what steps he is taking to prevent the stealing of radioactive material in future, particularly at power stations where breaches of security are subject to international checking and inspection.
§ Mr. FreesonThe operators of nuclear installations which are licensed by my right hon. Friend have been asked to2W review arrangements for the physical security of stores of nuclear material. Bradwell is the only nuclear power station subject to "safeguards" inspection by the International Atomic Energy Authority and in this particular case the missing material was outside the scope of the relevant agreement, because it had not been irradiated. But "safeguarded" stations are not regarded as a special problem. In safety terms, the security of nuclear material is equally important whether or not it is subject to "safeguards".