HC Deb 04 March 1991 vol 187 cc16-7W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 25 February,Official Report, column 345, how much of the 3.5 tonnes of plutonium sent abroad, or the 0.5 tonnes of plutonium held on behalf of foreign customers at Sellafield, was reprocessed and stored or exported by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. before the tripartite safeguards agreement between the United Kingdom and Euratom/IAEA was agreed.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Some 40 per cent. of the plutonium referred to by the hon. Member was sent abroad or stored by British Nuclear Fuels plc before the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement —Infcirc-263—came into force in 1978. All plutonium arising from reprocessing spent fuel at Sellafield on behalf of overseas customers has been subject to Euratom safeguards since 1973 and to the terms of that tripartite agreement.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 25 February,Official Report, column 345, what proportion of the 3.5 tonnes of foreign origin plutonium to which he refers arose from contracts for reprocessing nuclear fuel from abroad signed prior to the end of 1975.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Specific details of the Company's contracts are a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.