§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the co-funding, via the G8, of the development of plutonium fuel in Russia. [126572]
§ Mr. HainG8 countries have affirmed their intention to establish arrangements for the safe management of weapons-grade plutonium no longer required for defence purposes. We have recognised that an international approach to financing will be required involving both public and private funds. This issue will continue to be discussed at the upcoming G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the proposal that economic support be given by member states of the G8 for the Russian plutonium and nuclear industry. [126573]
§ Mr. HainThe 1996 Moscow Nuclear Summit tasked the G8 Non-Proliferation Experts Group (NPEG) to take forward international cooperation on the safe and permanent disposal of ex-weapons plutonium, focusing on the huge Russian and American stockpiles. Technical experts agreed that the most promising options for disposal were conversion (of both plutonium and uranium) into mixed-oxide fuel (MOX) for use in civil nuclear reactors, and vitrification (in glass or ceramic form). The UK has actively contributed to work: as G8 President in 1998 we held a major conference of governmental and industrial experts which examined options for implementing the programme and ways of financing it. The US and Russia have recently concluded a Framework Agreement on how they will deal with disposition of weapons grade plutonium. We look forward to further discussion at the forthcoming G8 summit in Okinawa.