§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) from which countries shipments of plutonium for civil purposes have come to the United Kingdom since 1979; on what dates they took place; and what was the mode of transport employed;
(2) how many shipments of plutonium for civil purposes have been made to the United Kingdom from other countries since 1979; and what was the quantity of plutonium in each shipment; in what form it was shipped; and to what purpose each shipment was put.
§ Mr. GoodladSome 230kg of separated plutonium have, since May 1979, been imported from the following countries in consignments larger than gram quantities:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Federal Republic of Germany
- France
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Switzerland
- United States of America
Detailed information relating to the quantities of plutonium received from individual countries, and the frequency and number of shipments, cannot be revealed for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.
Plutonium is transported by air, sea, rail and road, in full compliance with the relevant national and international regulations.
Nearly all of this plutonium was in fuel pins imported for civil research purposes.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the administrative procedures for authorising shipments to the United Kingdom of plutonium for civil purposes from other countries; and what changes have been made to the procedures since 1979.
§ Mr. GoodladAll shipments into the United Kingdom of plutonium for civil nuclear purposes require an import licence under the Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954.
Intergovernmental assurances are, as appropriate, exchanged in line with the United Kingdom's international obligations on non-proliferation.
In November 1984 a standard format was introduced for plutonium trade within the European Community.