§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which departmental budget will cover the payment in respect of the programme of aid to the Russian Plutonium Disposition strategy, announced at the G8 summit in Okinawa; what is the total United Kingdom financial commitment to this programme; over what period the payments will be made; and if he will list those bodies consulted by the Government in advance of the announcement. [133363]
§ Mr. HainThe Cross-cutting Review on Nuclear Problems in the Former Soviet Union proposed a new expenditure programme which will subsume all existing UK efforts in this field. This programme will take the form of a ring-fenced fund within the Department of Trade and Industry's Departmental Expenditure Limit. Overall priorities for the programme will be set on the advice of an interdepartmental committee. DTI will have responsibility for ensuring that this money is spent properly, and for day to day management of this new programme.
The review identified the management and disposition of weapons-grade plutonium surplus to military requirements as a key priority for the UK. All interest Government Departments were involved in the review. At Okinawa the Prime Minister announced the provision of £70 million over the next 10 years for plutonium disposition.