HC Deb 20 July 1979 vol 970 cc856-7W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the nature of the settlement reached between the Federal Government of Australia and the Atomic Energy Authority over the supply of uranium to the United Kingdom; and what concession, if any, the United Kingdom have had to make to secure the assent of the Commission.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The United Kingdom and Australian Governments initialled a nuclear safeguards agreement last year. The European Commission then raised certain legal issues; these have now been clarified in an " agreed minute " to be annexed to the agreement, which itself remains unchanged. The two Governments have also agreed to reconsider the agreement before the end of 1982 if there is no Euratom safeguards agreement with Australia by then.