§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any reason to suppose that British servicemen, while employed by "Royal Ordnance", have handled depleted uranium and if so whether they were warned by "Royal Ordnance" of risks from dust arising from the depleted uranium.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)We have no reason to suppose that any British servicemen deployed in Kuwait to provide specialist military assistance to Royal Ordnance handled or otherwise came into contact with depleted uranium. Advice on the risks likely to be involved in clearance operations involving depleted uranium ordnance and on the procedures to be adopted had been provided by the Ministry of Defence to members of 21 EOD Squadron prior to their deployment. The noble Lord will be aware that the squadron returned from Kuwait on 2nd October.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who, in the event of servicemen having been affected by contaminated dust from depleted uranium or otherwise, is in law responsible for compensation to them.
§ The Earl of ArranIn law, the person responsible for compensating anyone who suffers personal injury would be the person against whom negligence was proved.