§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those exercises which have taken place during the past five years at (a) RAF Stafford, (b) RAF Swynnerton, and (c) Ministry of Defence property at Royal Cottage outside Longnor, Staffordshire.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe information requested is not held centrally, and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost, particularly in view of the extensive use of the Swynnerton training area by the armed forces generally.
§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to the statement by the hon. Member for Kettering on 15 July (Mr. Freeman), whether he will list the officials of (a) Staffordshire county council or (b) Staffordshire Moorlands district council who were informed by his Department about the exercises involving radioactive contaminants; and on what dates such discussions took place.
§ Mr. Ian StewartIt is our practice, followed in all cases, to inform officials of external authorities as appropriate before each exercise involving the use of radioactive materials. It is not our practice to comment on specific details of such exercises, since such details are classified.