§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy why it would not be in the national interest to disclose the total amount of plutonium, by isotopic composition, produced in all British magnox reactors owned by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board since they were commissioned; and what advantage could be gained by other countries if this information were published.
§ Mr. Goodlad:I refer the hon. Member to the answer at columns 545–46 I gave on 25 January 1985, table 1, footnote (g).
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will reconcile the answers given on 2 December 1982, Official Report, columns 244–45, and 1 April 1985, Official Report, column 465, on the provision of plutonium production figures from civil reactors to the relevant safeguards authorities.
§ Mr. GoodladThe amount of plutonium produced by a nuclear reactor in a particular period is not represented by the amount transferred from the reactor in that period. Some of the plutonium which is produced is retained within the reactor and in storage facilities at the power station. The figures which are reported to Euratom concern transfers and holdings.
As I said in my reply of 1 April, the tripartite (United Kingdom /Euratom/IAEA) safeguards agreement does not require CEGB plutonium production figures to be reported.