HL Deb 26 May 1977 vol 383 cc1553-4WA
Lord HYLTON

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their attitude to the sale of plutonium separation plants to countries that have not ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and whether they will make a Statement on this subject.

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

The attitude of Her Majesty's Government to the export of sensitive nuclear technology, including plutonium separation plants, was announced by my right honourable friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in another place on the 31st March 1976 when he said that we would exercise restraint in the export of this technology. We have not exported any plutonium separation plants in the past and have no plans to do so in the future.