§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether any of the plutonium separated during the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the United Kingdom has at any stage since May 1979 been exported under ownership different from that under which it was produced or imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
(2) if he will detail each occasion since May 1979, on which changes of ownership of plutonium have occurred whilst in storage in any form in the United Kingdom, indicating (i) the date, (ii) the quantity involved, (iii) the original ownership, (iv) any subsequent ownership, (v) the quantity exported, (vi) the date on which exported, (vii) the ownership under which exported, (viii) the country and organisation to which exported and (ix) the chemical and physical form in which exported;
(3) if he will publish an inventory of plutonium stock held by the United Kingdom, dealing with countries and organisations which own any plutonium here, and the quantities each own.
§ Mr. GoodladPlutonium derived from the reprocessing of civil spent nuclear fuel is allocated between owners by British Nuclear Fuels plc pro rata to the estimated quantities of plutonium in incoming fuel. Since May 1979, all such separated plutonium has been stored or exported under safeguards by BNFL in accordance with the company's contractual agreements with the owners.
Details of BNFL's contractual arrangements with individual organisations are commercially confidential.