Environmental Protection (Hansard, 18 April 1990)

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to promote environmental awareness in the Ministry of Defence.

§ Mr. Neubert
As a result of action already taken, there is an enhanced level of awareness of the different ways in which the activities of the Ministry of Defence can impact on the natural environment.
The essay on "Defence and the Environment" in chapter 4 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990 (CM 1022-I) gives examples of where this greater awareness has had beneficial consequences.
More recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has charged me with responsibility for environmental issues throughout the Department, in support of the Government's overall environmental objectives.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being done on alternatives to paints harmful to marine life to prevent contaminated discharges in shipyards from entering estuarial waters.

§ Mr. Neubert
The Ministry of Defence is encouraging efforts by the paint industry into the research of environmentally acceptable toxins for anti-fouling paints and is undertaking trials of new products on the hulls of Her Majesty's ships.
Until non-toxic alternatives are available, measures are being taken to prevent contaminated discharges from entering estuarial waters. The effectiveness of these measures has been confirmed by an extensive monitoring programme.
The Ministry of Defence's work in this field is reported on at various international conferences and the work has received national and international recognition.