§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he will outline any agreement which has been made for the civil use of plutonium, as envisaged by article V (c) of the 1958 mutual defence agreement, so far as it concerns transfers of United Kingdom plutonium to the United States of America;
(2) how he ensures that no contravention occurs of the 1958 mutual defence agreement as far as it concerns the continuing civil use in the United States of America of civil plutonium transferred from the United Kingdom;
(3) whether the reference in his reply of 9 April, Official Report, column 6, to plutonium produced in the reactors of the generating boards, covers all civil-produced plutonium transferred to the United States of America; and whether commingled material is included in this definition;
(4) if Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that none of the plutonium transferred to the United States of America under the 1958 mutual defence agreement has lost its identity as a result of commingling with other materials;
(5) what proportion of the plutonium transferred to the United States of America under the 1958 mutual defence agreement has been used in (a) the fast flux test facility reactor, (b) the zero power physics reactor, (c) the production of isotopes for medical use, (d) other uses and (e) storage;
(6) if he will study the views expressed in the report of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the United States House of Representatives dealing with the Civilian Applications Authorisation Act, ordered to be printed on 17 May, so far as it relates to evidence on the use by the United States of America of civil plutonium transferred to the United States of America from the United Kingdom; and what are the implications of this document for his policy that representations to the United States Government on this matter are unnecessary.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerOn 21 April 1964, at column 1098, the then Prime Minister reported to Parliament that he had been informed by the United States Government that they had no intention of using the plutonium which was exported under the mutual defence agreement for weapons purposes. Earlier this year the US Energy Secretary, Mr. Hodel, reported to Congressman Ottinger that this plutonium had not been used in weapons and that it is the policy of his Department not to so use it. These statements, to which I referred in my answer to the right hon. Member of 9 April, at column 6, apply to all plutonium exported under the barter arrangements prior to 1971. It is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to release details of exchanges such as those between the United States and United Kingdom Governments on the mutual defence agreement. The answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) on 27 July 1982, at column438, explained the civil uses to which the material has been put in the USA and the form in which it now is. Her Majesty's Government are happy to rest on the assurances given by the United States as to its policy. These have been upheld over 20 years, and there is no reason to make further representations.