§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has given any safety assurances to(a) the Belgian authorities or (b) Belgian Members of the European Parliament about the dangers posed by the overflights of plutonium between Japan and the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe know of no request for such an assurance; nor is one necessary.
Plutonium flights to Japan, if they take place, will be made in full compliance with international regulations, which require safety for both normal and accident conditions to be built into the design of the container.
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all airports used for the export of quantities of plutonium in consignments of 1 g or less; and how often each year such quantities are exported from each airport.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[holding answer 22 March 1989]: No.
The Department does not collect this information on a routine basis.
10WBut I am advised that since 1984 a total of 404 sources or samples of plutonium in quantities of less than 1 g were exported. The large majority of these were sent via Heathrow, with occasional movements via Gatwick and Stansted. Less than 10 samples per year have also been sent from Manchester.