HC Deb 17 October 1994 vol 248 cc52-3W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with his Japanese counterpart or officials of the Japanese Government, in regard to nuclear proliferation controls and the clandestine plutonium trade, during his visit to Japan in September.

Mr. David Davis

These subjects were not discussed during my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's visit to Japan. Both nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear smuggling are of serious concern to Her Majesty's Government, however, we are considering them with others in a number of international forums including the G7.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the proliferation implications of Japan's import of nuclear reprocessing technology from the United States of America during the 1980s during his visit to Japan in September.

Mr. David Davis

No, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did not raise this matter.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings or other communications he has had with his EU counterparts since 1 August to discuss the measures to combat smuggling of plutonium and other nuclear materials.

Mr. David Davis

This matter was discussed at an informal meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers at Usedom on 10 and 11 September and again at the Foreign Affairs Council on 3 and 4 October. It was agreed that proposals would be prepared for the European Council at Essen in December.