Symbolising the growing bilateral ties, Britain has decided to ease sanctions against India relating to civilian nuclear energy ahead of Prime Minister Tony Blair's [Images] visit to New Delhi.

"The government notified Parliament on Wednesday about the significant changes in its laws regarding the export of dual-use nuclear technologies to India," a foreign office spokesman said on Thursday.

The British decision comes close on the heels of the Indo-US nuclear deal paving the way for supply of nuclear fuel to Tarapore and other reactors, ending the three-decade-old freeze.

Under the relaxed rules, applications for items under the dual-use list of the nuclear suppliers group will now be allowed to India, and Pakistan, on a 'case-by-case basis' and only when their end-use will be in an IAEA-safeguarded civilian nuclear facility. Applications for other licensable items, even those under weapons of mass destruction end-use controls, will also be opened on a case-by-case basis.

"We will again open the doors to Indian nuclear scientists and research organisations, academics and nuclear industry officials to come to the United Kingdom," the spokesman added.