§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make representations to the Government of Japan to ensure that all sea shipments of plutonium between the United Kingdom and Japan meet the requirements recommended in the applicable provisions of the international maritime dangerous goods code and the International Atomic Energy Agency transport guidelines;
(2) if he will make representations to the Government of Japan to ensure that all casks involved in the shipment of plutonium between the United Kingdom and Japan have been adequately tested as withstanding fire, collision and immersion conditions associated with maximum credible accidents; and what representations he has made to Japan on the security of the casks;
(3) if he will make representations to the Government of Japan to ensure that emergency port of call arrangements are fully agreed prior to the commencement of the shipment of plutonium between the United Kingdom and Japan.
§ Mr. EggarNo such representations are necessary. The detailed arrangements are a matter for the Japanese authorities. The carriage of plutonium is only allowed subject to compliance with stringent international standards which meet in full the applicable provisions of the international maritime dangerous goods code and the International Atomic Energy Agency transport guidelines, 223W to both of which Japan subscribes. In accordance with these reqirements, plutonium is transported in extremely robust special containers which are subject to rigorous fire, impact and immersion conditions. Appropriate measures are taken to ensure the security of these movements.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide in separate tabulated form figures for the total annual amount of(a) civil separated plutonium exported, (b) civil separated plutonium imported, (c) civil plutonium in spent fuel exported, (d) civil plutonium in spent fuel imported, (e) civil plutonium in fresh nuclear fuel pins imported and (f) civil plutonium in fresh nuclear fuel pins exported, since April 1988.
§ Mr. Eggar(holding answer 26 October 1992): Details of the United Kingdom's imports and exports of civil plutonium from April 1988 to March 1991 were given in the annual plutonium figures published by the former Department of Energy and placed in the Library of the House. The corresponding figures for 1991–92 are being compiled and will be published by my Department shortly.