Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 October 2002. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about his Department's plans for use and development of nuclear energy facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his Department's plans for use and development of nuclear energy facilities; and if he will make a statement. [73788] Dr. Lewis Moonie: Plutonium is the only fissile material produced in reactors. In April 1995 the then Foreign Secretary announced that the United Kingdom had ceased the production of fissile material for explosive purposes. Ministry of Defence has sufficient stocks of plutonium (as announced in SDR) to meet foreseeable needs. The UK supports the need for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty which would ban the production of fissile material for explosive purposes. Chapelcross MAGNOX reactors currently produce tritium for the national nuclear deterrent. BNFL has announced its decision to close Chapelcross by March 2005. Sufficient stocks of tritium are held to meet the needs of the Trident programme. Any decision on a replacement source of tritium, should one be required, will not need to be taken for many years.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 390 c544W;390 c546W; 73788
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Nuclear fuels Nuclear power Nuclear power stations Radioactive materials Storage Plutonium Magnox reactors Tritium
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk