HC Deb 14 February 1986 vol 91 cc568-9W
Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury of 10 December, Official Report, columns 589–90, he will set out the reasons why details of plutonium exported for civil end use are regarded as being commercially sensitive.

Mr. Goodlad

Because there is a confidentiality clause in the contracts.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury of 13 December, Official Report, column 804, he will (a) list the dates on which the plutonium exports to France referred to in his reply took place and (b) specify the international safeguards agreements under which these plutonium exports took place.

Mr. Goodlad

One export licence was granted in each of the following years:

1968, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1985. The material in question is subject to Euratom safeguards in France under the terms of the Euratom treaty. Shipments since 1981 would also be subject to IAEA safeguards under the terms of the agreement between France, Euratom and the IAEA of 27 July 1978.