HC Deb 05 February 1996 vol 271 cc30-1W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Huddersfield of 19 January,Official Report, columns 844–45, for what reasons complete records of past Ministry sea dumping operations are not available. [13382]

Mr. Soames

The information requested is contained in correspondence between my Department and the House of Commons Defence Committee, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all(a) ships sunk and (b) aircraft ditched off the coast of the United Kingdom since 1966 which records list as carrying (i) chemical weapons, (ii) toxic wastes and (iii) conventional explosives and munitions; and if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of these wrecks. [13352]

Mr. Soames

There are no records of either accidental or deliberate sinkings of RN ships or ditchings of military aircraft carrying these materials.