§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 20 May,Official Report, column 288, what benefits and new information accrued to his Department as a result of the departmental representation at the European Safeguards and Development Association meeting; how many personnel from the Atomic Energy Authority were present at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the costs incurred by the attendance at the meeting.
§ Mr. EggarThe 15th symposium of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association included, inter alia, sessions on challenges and trends in modern safeguards, safeguards concepts and national programmes. These provided information important in the development of international safeguards policy, for which my Department has a responsibility. Other sessions dealt with technical aspects of safeguards implementation and technology. Full proceedings of the symposium will be published shortly.
In connection with the United Kingdom's programme of safeguards research and development my Department funded participation in the symposium of four AEA personnel and contributed to that of a fifth. The cost of this and departmental attendance was approximately £9,000. Attendance of other AEA personnel at the symposium is a matter for AEA.