Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out his policy towards the flag-swapping and origin-swapping of uranium, with regard to the application of international safeguards; and if he is satisfied with the interpretation of flag and origin-swapping made by (a) the Euratom supply agency in Brussels and (b) the Euratom safeguards divison in Luxembourg.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerWe follow internationally accepted practices of accounting for nuclear material. These reflect the fact that conversion and fabrication of uranium oxide is a continuous process in which materials of different origin are routinely blended and lose their identity and that it is not therefore feasible to trace the origin of any particular batch of nuclear material. Moreover, exchanges of safeguards obligations (flag-swapping) do not affect the origin of nuclear material.
The Euratom supply agency and the Euratom safeguards office do not accept origin swaps but accept that the established practice of exchanging safeguards obligations in respect of nuclear material is compatible with proper safeguards. The Government share this view.