§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he or other Ministers or officials of his Department have had with Japanese counterparts since 1990 regarding(a) the application of international safeguards to and (b) the implications for non-proliferation of the export of plutonium from the United Kingdom to Japan.
§ Mr. EggarI have been asked to reply.
All plutonium in Japan is subject to full-scope international safeguards. Japan has made clear its commitment to the goal of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and is a non-nuclear weapons state party to the non-proliferation treaty. Appropriate assurances are obtained from the Japanese Government before any plutonium is exported there from the United Kingdom, 423W but otherwise Her Majesty's Government have not discussed the matters referred to by the hon. Member with the Japanese authorities.