To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his talks with President Kuchma of Ukraine on (a) co-operation on nuclear power matters, (b) co-operation on space matters and (c) future joint use of Baikenor expertise. [7061]

During my meeting with president Kuchma of Ukraine, I informed him that the United Kingdom looked forward to the signing in the near future of a G7-Ukraine memorandum of understanding regarding the closure, by the year 2000, of the remaining reactors at Chernobyl. The memorandum sets out a comprehensive programme of co-operation to support Ukraine's decision on closure within the framework of wider energy sector reform and investment. I stressed the Government's firm support for this programme. I did not discuss with President Kuchma co-operation on space matters or the joint use of the Baikenor launching site in Kazakhstan.