HC Deb 04 February 1991 vol 185 cc68-70W
Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of curies of radiation released by the bombing of Iraq's nuclear installations.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the destruction of two Iraqi nuclear reactors on 23 January; and what assessment he makes of the effects of the destruction in the medium and long-term in military and other terms.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) on 29 January, column504. We have no evidence of any release of radioactivity from Iraq's nuclear installations.

Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the number of oil wells, oil rigs and other oil installations in Kuwait that are on fire.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We assess that up to 31 January 1991 the following oil installations in Kuwait are, or had recently been, on fire:

  1. (a) Between three and eleven oil wells.
  2. (b) Up to four crude oil gathering centres.
  3. (c) Crude oil storage tanks in the Wafrah oilfield.
  4. (d) Crude oil storage tanks and manifolds at two refineries.
  5. (e) The Mina al Ahmadi Sea Island Terminal together with a related single buoy mooring.

Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature of Iraq's nuclear reactors, their capacity, their type of fuel and their moderating material; and what damage has been inflicted on them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iraq has two research reactors at Tuwaitha nuclear research centre near BaghdadA Soviet-supplied IRT-5000, pool type reactor with a maximum design power of 5000 kw(th), using 80 per cent. enriched uranium fuel in a moderator of light water. A French supplied ISIS (Tammuz-2), pool type reactor with a maximum design power of 500 kw(th), using 93 per cent. enriched uranium fuel in a moderator of light water. The buildings housing both reactors have been damaged.

Damage to the reactors themselves, if any, cannot yet be assessed. We have no evidence of any release of radioactivity.

Mr. David Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to sending HMS Britannia to the Gulf to serve as a medical support ship.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Careful consideration was given to deploying HMY Britannia to the Gulf to provide maritime medical support, but after a full assessment of the requirement, it was decided that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus would be better suited for the task.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he receives reports from the Red Cross about deaths and injuries in Iraq.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

My right hon. Friend has received no such reports.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received concerning captured British pilots taken prisoner in Iraq and the medical treatment given to them.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I understand that Iraq has not yet provided any information to the International Committee of the Red Cross on allied personnel being held and their location, nor permitted the ICRC to satisfy itself that they are being held in accordance with Iraq's obligations under the Geneva convention.

Mr. Parry

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has received concerning the damage to Christian churches, mosques and schools in Iraq at the latest date;

(2) what is the latest information he has received of deaths and injuries in Iraq involving civilians; and how many of those injured or killed were children.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The targets being attacked by coalition forces are sites which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. These attacks have been carefully planned, with the aim of keeping civilian casualties as low as possible, and they also take account of the locations of sites of religious and cultural importance. Iraq claimed at the United Nations on 24 January that over 300 civilians had been killed and over 400 injured. They have also claimed extensive damage to non-military sites. We are unable to verify Iraq's claims.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist among the allied powers engaged in the Gulf for reviewing war aims.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The aims of the coalition forces are those laid down by the United Nations Security Council.