§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 1998,Official Report, column 598, if, during his discussions with the US Government, he was informed of their wish to transport to Dounreay the additional quantity of nine kilograms of low enriched uranium; and if he will make a statement. [48805]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 6 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry on 6 July 1998, Official Report, column 371.
§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Prime Minister when he was first notified of the recommendation to close the commercial reprocessing facility at Dounreay; when the Government received the report recommending the closure; which(a) ministers and (b) officials received this report; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [46262]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 16 June 1998]: On 17 March 1998, the UKAEA Board considered the future of reprocessing at Dounreay and recommended that no new commercial work be accepted as part of a phased rundown to a complete cessation of reprocessing. The Chief Executive of UKAEA advised officials in the Department of Trade and Industry of the Board's proposed course of action by letter on 19 March 1998. DTI officials then had a number of discussions with UKAEA to check points in the analysis, and they submitted advice to DTI Ministers on 1 May 1998. I was first notified when the President of the Board of Trade consulted colleagues by letter on 29 May. 553W The Government made the announcement on 5 June that UKAEA would accept no new contracts for commercial reprocessing at Dounreay.
The Minister for Industry, Energy and Science has asked the Chairman of UKAEA to supply the information and analysis that went into the decision announced on 5 June, and he will place the Chairman's response in the Library.