§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the viability of contracting out the(a) locating and (b) clearing of unexploded ordnance at the Archers Post training ground in Kenya. [83357]
§ Mr. IngramWhile some Non-Government Organisations and firms have approached the Ministry of Defence with broad offers to assist with Explosive Ordnance Clearance operations currently carried out by the British Army in Kenya, it is considered that this task can be more competently and comprehensively conducted by specialist Royal Engineer Explosive Ordnance Disposal units. Moreover, given the testing climatic environment, there is considerable training value in such clearance operations being carried out by the units involved.
§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what clearance techniques for removing unexploded ordnance are met at Archers Post, Kenya; [83358]
(2) what surveying techniques are used by the Army in locating unexploded ordnance to be cleared at Archers Post, Kenya. [83361]
§ Mr. IngramAfter firing of ordnance British Army units training at Archers Post commence a visual search of the surface of the training area with the object of recording and clearing any "blind" or unexploded munitions before leaving the area. The techniques employed observe and adhere to extant British Army practices and regulations for the disposal of munitions. These procedures are applicable on all sites where the British Army trains throughout the world.
§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions his Department has held with the Kenyan Government about the future clearance of unexploded ordnance on land in Kenya made for military training by British forces; [83360]
(2) how long the clean up of unexploded munitions at Archers Post training site in Kenya took in the spring of (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 operations. [83355]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement between his Department and the Kenyan Government on the clearing of unexploded ordnance at Archers Post and other training grounds in Kenya. [83359]
332W
§ Mr. IngramThere is no formal agreement with the Kenyan Government specifically dealing with the clearance of unexploded ordnance from areas used by the British Army for training in Kenya. To assist the Kenyan authorities Exercise PINEAPPLE, an annual Explosive Ordnance Clearance exercise, is conducted at Archers Post and other Kenyan training areas. This is a voluntary initiative of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, undertaken in order to provide a safe training environment. The exercise is conducted in conjunction with Kenyan Army Engineers and its requirement is assessed annually. During each of the years 2000, 2001, and 2002 some four weeks were spent conducting disposals at Archers Post. We plan to repeat this in 2003.