§ Mr. TrendTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made on proposals for an international nuclear safety convention.
§ Mr. EggarA convention on nuclear safety was agreed by more than 70 states at a diplomatic conference at the614W International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on 17 June. It will be open for signature from 20 September and will enter into force after ratification by 22 states, including 17 states with at least one civil nuclear power plant.
The main objective of the convention is to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety worldwide. Countries ratifying the convention will submit national reports, for discussion at periodic review meetings, on how they meet or intend to meet safety obligations established in the convention. The Government welcome the agreement on the convention text and hope that the states with civil nuclear powers plants will ratify the convention.