§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's involvement in environmental clean-up operations; how many operations are currently under way; and how much money is spent each year on such operations. [18846]
§ Mr. FreemanDecontamination of MOD land is undertaken where there is a significant risk to health and safety or the environment, or where land is being sold. In the latter case, my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces set out the position in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 15 July 1994,Official Report, column 818. Information on the total number of remediation/decontamination programmes currently under way at individual MOD sites and their associated costs is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Details of sites in disposal with identified contamination problems are contained in the House of Commons Defence Committee's report on the defence estate, Vol. II, page 72, published on 15 December 1994.