§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence(a) how many soldiers were involved in Exercise Womble on Salisbury plain on 31 March, (b) which parts of Salisbury plain were covered by this exercise, (c) how many square miles, or square kilometres, were cleared by this exercise, (d) how many instances of (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements or (iv) open trenches were found during this exercise, (e) how many injuries to personnel were recorded during this exercise, (f) how much litter was picked up during this exercise; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertExercise Womble formed part of the annual clean-up of all ranges, training areas and camps within the Army's south-west district area. It involved about 500 men, lasted one day, and covered some 35 square miles of the Salisbury Plain training area. Small amounts of unexploded ordnance were discovered and removed for safe disposal; these were one artillery shell,
362Wrelevant records so as to ascertain the number of representations his Department has received regarding the continued use of the village of Imber and surrounding lands by the armed forces.
§ Mr. NeubertNo, but I stress that those records that are readily available indicate that no recent representations have been received concerning the continued use of Imber by the Army.