§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what export licensing controls exist in respect of the export of civil nuclear technology and equipment; and if existing procedures are under review. [46481]
§ Mrs. RocheThe UK's export controls on nuclear and nuclear-related goods are derived from international nuclear non-proliferation commitments and membership of international nuclear export control regimes, in particular the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), whose members have agreed common guidelines for the transfer of nuclear and nuclear-related goods and technology. The NSG guidelines are reproduced as International Atomic Energy Agency document INFCIR 254, Parts I and II as amended.
These commitments are given effect in the relevant legislation, which in this case is Council Regulation (EC) No.381/94 on the export of dual use goods and the related Council Decision 94/942/CSFP as amended.
498WThe Council Regulation—which has a much wider scope than civil nuclear equipment and technology—foresees a review three years after the date of its entry into force, which was 1 July 1995. The UK is working with EU partners on such a review. In addition, the UK works with NSG partners on the development of the NSG guidelines. No general review of these strict controls is currently being undertaken, but work is in hand in the NSG to examine ways in which specific issues such as the intangible transfer of technology may be addressed to ensure that the guidelines remain as effective as possible in a changing technological environment.