§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantities of plutonium have been(a) sold and (b) loaned to the European Commission, on behalf of the European Communities, by the United 168W Kingdom (i) prior to and (ii) since the United Kingdom joined the European Community; and if she will provide details of dates and reasons for such transactions. [8870]
§ Mr. WilsonInformation available to us indicates that small samples of material have been transferred to the European Commission for purposes such as safeguards measurements and research. The details requested cannot be provided because the information is held largely on paper records dating back over 40 years and could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.