Vol. 430 No. 4
75 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that British Nuclear Fuels plc are currently arranging deals with South Korea even though the US Government has recommended that South Korea should not be given any materials which could enable it to produce nuclear weapons lest the nuclear non-proliferation treaty be destabilished; and if he has written to the British Government on this issue.
I am not aware of the transactions to which the Deputy refers. However, the British Government is one of the depositaries of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which prohibits assistance and encouragement being given to non-nuclear weapons states — such as South Korea — to acquire nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom is also a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls the export of nuclear materials and dual-use equipment and technology which could be adapted for the development of nuclear weapons. As these safeguards are in place, I do not consider it appropriate to take this matter up with the British authorities.
