§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute an inquiry into the detonation of a shell on the beach at Newburgh in the East Aberdeenshire constituency at 1400 hours on 12 May, which caused fear and concern to lieges in that village; and if he will make a full statement on the reason for this explosion and give an assurance that adequate safety precautions and prior warnings will be given should such an incident occur in the future.
§ Mr. HayhoeOn 12 May the Army explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) detachment from Edinburgh received a request from the police to dispose of an old wartime shell discovered by the police in the Forvie nature reserve. The EOD team removed the shell to a selected safe, remote site adjacent to the beach near Newburgh, where it was destroyed.
In this instance, on the basis of police advice, no warnings were given; to have done so would have attracted a number of spectators with the consequent need for a greater number of police and Army personnel to man a safety cordon. However, 670W full safety precautions were taken and at no time was there any danger to any members of the public.