§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the intended uses of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. GoodladI am informed by BNFL that, in the last three years, it has exported depleted uranium for the following uses:
- (a) development work on nuclear fuel production;
- (b) as samples to demonstrate the capabilities of BNFL technologies to potential customers;
- (c) as radiation shielding;
- (d) as colouring for ceramics and glazes;
- (e) as an additive in the production of special steels;
- (f) for use in research and development work;
- (g) as isotopic reference standards.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to the organisation and 21W outcome of the monitoring and control by international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member of the subsequent movements of consignments of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in each of the last three years;
(2) what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the International Atomic Energy Agency about the subsequent destination of depleted uranium exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to International Metals SA of Luxembourg and the implications of this incident for the operation of the nonproliferation treaty.
§ Mr. GoodladThe United Kingdom supplies information about depleted uranium movements to the safeguards authorities of Euratom and the IAEA. No representations have been made by either body to Her Majesty's Government about diverted material. In 1984 the safeguards system detected a shipment of depleted uranium from Luxembourg to Israel which was made without due notification. BNFL had previously exported depleted uranium to International Metals SA of Luxembourg under safeguards. The annual safeguards statements contained in the IAEA's Annual Reports up to 1984 show that with the one exception noted above, there were no anomalies in the shipments of depleted uranium monitored by the agency.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will issue a general direction to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to prohibit the sale by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. of depleted uranium for export; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to permit the export of depleted uranium only if conditions are imposed requiring any subsequent disposal to be in accordance with the provisions of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the purposes for which they authorise the export of depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladExports of nuclear materials are only authorised in accordance with the policy laid down by the then Foreign Secretary in 1976 [Vol. 980, c. 514–516]. All applications for licences to export depleted uranium are examined on a case by case basis in the light of this policy.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what have been the levels of exports of depleted uranium in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladExport licences were approved in respect of applications to export depleted uranium from the United Kingdom in the years 1980 to 1984 as follows:
Year Tonnes 1980 50 1981 60 1982 70 1983 30 1984 130