HC Deb 24 July 1987 vol 120 cc518-9W
Mr. Flynn

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he has any information subsequent to the statement by the then Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, on 2 April 1964, concerning the specific use to which the electricity board magnox plutonium consigned to the United States has been put since this date; and whether there are any plans for future export of electricity board plutonium to the United States of America;

(2) whether all consignments of plutonium arising from British civil electricity board magnox reactors and exported to the United States of Ameria have been covered by bilateral peaceful end use restriction nuclear safeguards or International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

(3) whether all exports of plutonium arising from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Central Electricity Generating Board or South of Scotland Electricity Board reactors exported to the United States since May 1979 have been covered by peaceful end use safeguards.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Mullin

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if British Nuclear Fuels plc has physically separate stores for plutonium arising from: (a) Calder hall and Chapelcross magnox reactors, (b) Central Electricity Generating Board magnox reactors and (c) South of Scotland Electricity Board magnox reactors after its processing through the Windscale B205 reprocessing plant at Sellafield: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Calder hall and Chapelcross material is segregated from safeguarded stocks.

Mr. Mullin

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what specific safeguarding arrangements apply to plutonium stored at Sellafield.

Mr. Michael Spicer

All civil plutonium stored at Sellafield is under Euratom safeguards. The main elements of the safeguards inspection arrangements for Sellafield agreed with Euratom were given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 4 June 1986 at columns594–95.

Mr. Morley

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to make an announcement on the publication of plutonium production figures.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 22 April, at column547, and 5 May, at column 304. Information relating to the allocation of plutonium from generating board reactors for 1986–87 is given in an answer today to the hon. Member for Meirionydd Nant Conwy.