§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions nuclear material has been withdrawn from safeguards under article 14 of the tripartite safeguards treaty between the United Kingdom, Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will list those occasions by date, facility, amount of nuclear material involved and when the withdrawal constituted a temporary change of status for operational convenience rather than use of the material for national security reasons.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 15 June 1989, at column486.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when it was agreed by(a) member states of the European Atomic Energy Community and (b) member states and the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that the principle of fungibility should apply to consignments of civil nuclear materials in regard to application of safeguards.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI am advised that the existing practice regarding fungibility was formally recognised by member states of the European Atomic Energy Community by a statement of interpretation upon the adoption of Regulation 3227/76 of 19 October 1976.