§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the decontamination of Gruinard Island.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI have now received the conclusions of the independent advisory group which has been reviewing the evidence on the efficacy of the decontamination treatment. The IAG has reported that it is convinced that the decontamination has worked well and considers on the basis of the evidence that the island could now be returned to civil ownership. The IAG has recommended, and I have accepted, that before the island is so returned, it should be demonstrated both to the group and to the general public that the whole island can be used in the same way as agricultural land on the mainland. This demonstration will be achieved by a local farmer shepherding part of his flock on the island during the coming summer.