§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Trade if consideration has been given to the purchase of variable frequency inverters, which are used in 455W gas centrifuges to enrich uranium, by TEAM, a German company, for supply to Pakistan, in the light of the provisions of the non-proliferation treaty or other measures to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. BennI have been asked to reply.
Yes. However equipment specially designed for use in a gas centrifuge installation was not at that time subject to the Export of Goods Control Order; such equipment is now subject to control.
Any application to export equipment which is specially designed for uranium enrichment plants would be treated with full regard to our Non-Proliferation Treaty—NPT—and other international obligations, in accordance with the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 31st March 1976—[Vol. 908, c. 514–16].