HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 c307W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's agreement on 8 July to a request by the United Nations to make provision in conjunction with French nuclear authorities to handle damaged nuclear fuel from the Tuwaitha nuclear plants near Baghdad.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

The International Atomic Energy Agency approached the United Kingdom and French Governments with a request for assistance in the removal of nuclear weapons-usable material from Iraq in fulfilment of United Nations Security Council resolution 687. The Government attach great importance to the elimination of Iraq's potential for developing nuclear weapons and supports the United Kingdom nuclear industry's readiness to participate in this work.

Any contracts will be on a commerical basis between the companies involved and the IAEA. The agency has invited detailed proposals and operators in the United Kingdom and France which have the necessary specialised facilities will, I understand, be submitting a joint proposal to undertake the work.