§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the threat posed to British forces involved in Operation Granby from Iraqi possession of French-made technology.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThough it is not the practice to release information on threat assessments, potential and actual threats to the security of Her Majesty's armed forces are kept under constant review.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of depleted uranium shells and bullets were fired by allied forces in the Gulf war; and what steps have been taken to clean up the desert areas where such radioactive ammunition was used.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA small proportion of the ammunition used by British forces during the conflict in the Gulf contained depleted uranium. The use of such material by other allied forces is a matter for the countries concerned. The uranium 235 content of these rounds is less than that which occurs naturally, and any residual hazard to health from such rounds would be minimal.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mr. Fields), of 19 March,Official Report, column 153, he will set out the methodology used to calculate the disaggregated breakdown of the £1.75 billion additional costs incurred by the United Kingdom through participation in military activities in the Gulf.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe figure of about £1.75 billion comprises two elements: the value of major equipments lost and munitions consumed in the conflict arid in associated training (on present estimates totalling about £450 million); and the additional costs of preparing for and participating in the conflict (assessed at about £1,300 million). The latter element includes some £700 million for new equipment and modifications; £200 million for sea and air transport; and £400 million for other operating costs both in and out of theatre. Costs yet to be incurred or assessed will include the recovery, maintenance and repair of equipment, the replacement of stores, the bringing of equipment back to common modification standards, and the consequential effects of the conflict on the defence programme.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any of the United Kingdom service men killed in friendly fire action in the Gulf war were hit by depleted uranium radioactive bullets fired by United States forces.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe investigations into the incidents in which British service men were killed or injured by friendly fire are not yet complete.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 March, column90, which British defence companies sent staff to the Gulf region in support of Operation Granby; what type of staff were sent; and how many staff each company sent.
Mr. Alan ClarkeThese details are a matter for the companies concerned.
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Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect Operation Granby will have on planning the level of logistical support for BAOR units; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWork is continuing to determine the size and shape of the Army's logistic support under "Options for Change", and account will be taken of any Granby lessons learned in this area.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect Operation Granby had on the level of maintenance available to those armoured units that remained in Germany; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonOperation Granby has had an effect on maintenance and spares support for vehicles belonging to units in Germany. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 28 November 1990 at column446.