Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy in what form Her Majesty's Government have received assurances from the United States Government that none of the United Kingdom plutonium exported to the United States of America since 1958 under the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement, and arising from civil reactors in the United Kingdom, has been put to any form of defence research in the United States of America.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 2 July 1984 at column36.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), 12 April,Official Report, column 49, from which thermal reactors plutonium originated before being used at Sellafield to supplement the fuel for Dounreay fast reactor fuel; and how much thermal reactor plutonium in each year since 1979 has been put to fast reactor fuel fabrication use.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerOn 31 March 1987 some 6½ tonnes of safeguarded plutonium originating from thermal reactors had been made available for fuel for the Dounreay prototype fast reactor. Some 5½ tonnes of this originated from electricity board reactors and the remainder from reactors operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc. Quantities for individual years can only be provided at disproportionate cost.