asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much uranium was imported from Namibia in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 to the most recent practicable date.
Details of contracts for supplies of uranium are commercially confidential to the parties concerned.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether any uranium is sent to the Soviet Union for enrichment; what is the quantity; what is the purpose; and if he will make a statement.
The CEGB, in conjunction with the SSEB, has a uranium enrichment contract with the USSR concluded in 1975. The quantity of uranium supplied for the purpose of enrichment is of the order of 170 tonnes per annum (in the form of uranium hexafluoride), all of which is returned either as product (enriched uranium) or tails (depleted uranium). Enriched uranium is required for incorporation in civil reactor fuel. The contract provides for only a small proportion (7 per cent.) of the boards' total contracted supplies, the remainder of which is supplied by URENCO. I understand that even if the CEGB were to cancel this contract, no equivalent contract would be placed with Urenco.