Plutonium

HC Deb 06 November 1997 vol 300 cc296-7W

Mr. McGrady

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action will be taken to dispose of Britain's stockpile of civil plutonium. [14304]

Mr. Battle

Decisions on the utilisation of United Kingdom's civil plutonium stocks are for the owners of these stocks, including Magnox Electric, British Energy and BNFL's overseas customers, subject to meeting the necessary physical protection and safeguards requirements. There is no quick and easy way to dispose of the United Kingdom's stocks of civil plutonium. One option is to use some of this plutonium to fabricate mixed oxide fuel to burn in civil nuclear reactors to generate electricity.

The United Kingdom attaches great importance to ensuring that rigorous arrangements are in place to protect against the risk of theft, sabotage or diversion of any of its plutonium stocks. These stocks are kept under the close scrutiny of the EURATOM Safeguards Office and International Atomic Energy Agency.