§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many shipments of plutonium have taken place(a) by air from and (b) by surface, within the United Kingdom, over the past two years; and if he will give details of airports and routes used.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerFor consignments of plutonium by air, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 16 February 1988 at column 592. Plutonium is normally sent from Carlisle airport but small samples for safeguards purposes go from Manchester airport.
Surface consignments are primarily shipments from Dounreay to Sellafield. For this I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 9 March 1988 at column 205–206.
Information relating to such movements over a short period and to specific shipments is confidential, for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.