§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the use of depleted uranium in military equipment;
(2) how much depleted uranium has been purchased for military use in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and from whom.
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§ Mr. ButlerA comprehensive statement on the use of depleted uranium in anti-armour ammunition was placed in the Library of the House on 8 March 1979, at columns777–78, by the then Secretary of State for Defence, and a further statement was made by the then Secretary of State on 25 January 1980 at column 395. The research and development programme to which these statements refer is continuing. Depleted uranium to the value of some £100,000 in 1981–82, £200,000 in 1982–83 and £300,000 in 1983–84 has been procured for the programme from British and overseas sources.
I am today replying to a separate question from the hon. Member on the use of depleted uranium in the Phalanx close-in weapon system.
Additionally, depleted uranium may be used in the defence nuclear programme. For security reasons, it is a long-standing practice not to reveal details, including quantities, of materials procured for that programme.