HC Deb 11 June 1993 vol 226 cc368-9W
Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use by British armed forces of depleted uranium ammunition.

Mr. Hanley

The British armed forces are currently equipped with two kinds of ammunition containing depleted uranium: 120mm tank ammunition, small quantities of which were fired by Challenger tanks during the Gulf conflict; and 20mm ammunition for the Royal Navy's Vulcan Phalanx point defence weapons system, which, apart from some rounds fired for proving purposes, was not used in the Gulf. During peacetime training at sea, the Royal Navy also fires Vulcan Phalanx ammunition at towed air targets; DU ammunition is not used by the Army for peacetime training purposes.

Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the health risks posed to members of the armed forces who served in the Gulf war, arising from the use of depleted uranium tank and artillery rounds.

Mr. Hanley

The Ministry of Defence knows of no evidence that there was any health risk to any United Kingdom service personnel who served in the Gulf war, due to the handling or use of depleted uranium ammunition.