§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy if Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the International Atomic Energy Agency has sufficient access to all its member countries to enable it to ensure that assistance provided by it or under its assistance is not used to further any military purpose.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe International Atomic Energy Agency is required by its statute to
ensure so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose".Under the member state's safeguards agreement with the IAEA the agency's inspectors are provided with sufficient access to enable them to detect whether the assistance given by the agency is being misused.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are taken by the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the nuclear facilities in each country; and how many countries now possess uranium enrichment plants.
§ Mr. Giles ShawProvision for the inspection of nuclear facilities is provided in the safeguard agreements which member states make with the IAEA. The methods and frequency of inspections vary according to the type of facility. The details are confidential to the IAEA and the state concerned.
In addition to the uranium enrichment plants in the five nuclear weapon states, the Netherlands has a commercial plant and a number of other countries have pilot facilities in operation or under development.