§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Office of Civil Nuclear Security has been asked by(a) the United States and (b) French nuclear or transport authorities to assist in the security plans for the transhipment of weapons-usable plutonium from the United States to France. [150832]
§ Mr. Timms[holding answer 5 February 2004]The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) is in contact with US authorities over the proposal for the transportation of plutonium from the United States to France and is in the early stages of discussions with them1094W regarding the security requirements. OCNS, the UK's civil nuclear security regulator, would expect to be asked to approve a transport security plan prepared by the UK registered shipper Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. (PNTL), which the US authorities would like to undertake this transportation.