§ Mr. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those subjects relating to the civil nuclear power programme which would be classified in each of the 143W following categories (a) manufacturing techniques for nuclear materials, (b) stockpile quantities, production rates and costs of fissile materials, (c) storage sites for fissile material including locations and capacities and (d) the movement of fissile material.
§ Mr. Norman LamontProvision of information in the detail requested would represent a breach of classification. Some atomic energy information within the civil field is classified because it relates to the technologies for or the scale or cost of production of those nuclear materials used in nuclear weapons; and to the storage and transport of such materials. Additionally, classification is necessary to honour the United Kingdom's international and treaty commitments to non-proliferation policies and to prevent disclosure of information of potential value to those who might seek to acquire fissile materials illegally or to damage installations or materials in transit. Some unclassified information in the civil field is withheld for commercial reasons.