STOCKPILES OF PLUTONIUM

Early day motion 348, tabled 27 October 1997 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 145 members.

That this House is concerned with the ever-increasing stockpiles of plutonium in Britain and the rest of the world; regrets the lack of any clear policy on what to do with this plutonium and in particular the decision by Britain to allow the recylcing of some of this plutonium for use in mixed oxide fuel; regrets the lack of a detailed plutonium disposition policy for Britain and the lack of discussion or debate in this House on the potential proliferation risks of Britain's plutonium stockpile and the manufacturing and exporting of mixed oxide fuel by British Nuclear Fuels plc; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to instigate a thorough re-examination of how to deal with Britain's plutonium stockpile that takes account of the many concerns of the public and honourable Members before arriving at a plutonium disposal policy that properly addresses all the potential health, environment and proliferation risks posed by this stockpile.

Signatures by party: Labour 104, Liberal Democrat 23, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, UKUP 1.