§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is now to operate a system of spot checks on members' nuclear facilities; whether Israel, as a member of IAEA, is to be included in these spot checks; and if not, why not.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyIn the context of the IAEA's work to strengthen the effectiveness of its safeguards regime (the so-called "93 plus 2" programme) new measures are being negotiated which would require states to provide the agency with additional information covering all their civil nuclear activities; and allow agency inspectors increased access to nuclear facilities, research and development facilities and industrial sites to check the information provided. Although the list of new measures has not yet been finalised, it is likely to provide IAEA inspectors with access to nuclear sites at short notice; as little as two hours or, in exceptional circumstances, even less.
States with comprehensive safeguards agreements with the IAEA will be expected to take on the new measures in full. But Israel does not have such a comprehensive safeguards agreement (although she has placed one research reactor under IAEA safeguards and it is already subject to inspection) and it will, therefore, be for the Israeli Government to decide which, if any, of the new measures to adopt. The UK will encourage states without comprehensive safeguards agreements to take on those "93 plus 2" measures which would strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the IAEA's safeguards system.