§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much unexploded ordnance has been left on the ground following British Army training exercises in(a) Kenya and (b) in foreign countries other than Kenya, broken down by type. [49306]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 April 2002]: Wherever it trains, the British Army aims to destroy unexploded ammunition it uses as soon as possible after it has been fired—usually during the exercise itself. In Kenya, we also conduct an annual clearance exercise at the end of our exercise period in support of the Kenyan Authorities.
483WInformation about amounts of unexploded ordnance that may have been left on the ground following British Army training exercises is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much unexploded ordnance he estimates has been left by British forces in Kenya in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002; and if he will make a statement; [49991]
(2) how much unexploded ordnance he estimates has been left by British forces; how much money has been spent by the Ministry of Defence in clearing unexploded ordnance in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [49996]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 16 April 2002]: Wherever they train, British Forces aim to destroy unexploded ammunition as soon as possible after it has been fired—usually during the exercise itself. In Kenya, we also conduct an annual clearance exercise at the end of our exercise period in support of the Kenyan Authorities.
I have assumed that the hon. Member is seeking information about the amount of ordnance left unexploded following exercises by British Forces and the costs of clearing it, rather than operational deployments. These details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.