HC Deb 16 November 1987 vol 122 cc453-4W
Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of civilians and service men injured or killed by live ammunition in the Dartmoor national park in the last 30 years.

Mr. Freeman

One boy was killed and two members of the public have been injured by live ammunition on service ranges in the national park over the last 30 years. We do not hold centrally records for any service men in the same categories.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of civilian deaths and injuries resulting from the use of live ammunition in military exercises or service ranges in the last 30 years.

Mr. Freeman

This historical information is not held centrally. From 1 January 1988 such information will be collected centrally.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any live ammunition or other military ordnance has been recovered by civilians from the Okehampton range.

Mr. Freeman

The recovery of military objects from live-firing ranges is strictly against the byelaws, and signs warn the public accordingly. A recent accident at the Okehampton range was an instance where the byelaws had been contravened, but we have no means of knowing whether on other occasions military ordnance might have been salvaged in similar circumstances.

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