§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government: What progress has been made in Iraq to ensure that the recommendations of the Royal Society and the United Nations Environment Programme, with regard to post-conflict monitoring of depleted uranium contamination, are followed. [HL572]
§ Lord BachSubstantial progress has been made on implementing the recommendations. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) expects to commence its full environment field survey in Iraq—of which depleted uranium (DU) is a part—in spring 2004. However, this will depend on the local security situation. The Department for International Development (DFID) has, in principle, agreed to part-fund this work.
In support of the UNEP survey, the Ministry of Defence has provided UNEP with details of UK DU target locations and has offered to provide advice on carrying out risk assessments on DU within urban areas and on long-term monitoring of the DU in the environment, including water. In June 2003, MoD scientists completed a preliminary technical assessment of a number of Iraqi tanks thought to have been struck by DU rounds. These tanks have been clearly marked pending further detailed examination by an MoD scientific team when the security situation allows. Preliminary findings indicate very low levels of DU in the vicinity of the tanks. The MoD is sharing the information obtained on these tanks with UNEP as well as the Royal Society.
88WAAll surface-lying DU fragments are being removed from the battlefield as they are discovered. Iraqi locals have been warned by signs and leaflets that they should not go near or touch any debris they find on the battlefield. All UK Armed Forces personnel are being offered a test for total uranium in their urine followed up by an isotope test if this gives anomalous results, to determine whether the uranium is depleted. Personnel who are identified as being most likely to have received high level exposure to DU are being offered both tests from the outset.