HC Deb 25 November 1985 vol 87 c412W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list for each year since 1973 (a) the amount of plutonium passing through the material balance area at Windscale not open to safeguards inspectors and (b) the reactors of origin of the plutonium.

Mr. Goodlad

The material balance area processed by civil and defence plutonium during this period; it would not be in the national interest to disclose the amount of plutonium processed. Most of the re-processed fuel came from magnox reactors. A small amount came from a pilot oxide fuel head-end plant which ceased operation during 1973.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which of the nuclear material balance areas at Windscale is prohibited to entry by nuclear safeguard inspectors.

Mr. Goodlad

The Euratom inspectors are at present excluded from the civil-military nuclear material balance area at BNFL Sellafield.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the issues that remain unresolved by Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission with regard to the implementation of a full safeguard inspection régime by the Euratom inspectorate of all nuclear materials processed at Windscale arising from the electricity boards' reactors.

Mr. Goodlad

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 4 April 1985 at column694.