§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action was taken by his Department to ensure that the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli, was before it was sold, free from any contamination caused by the production and testing of explosives and caused by the disposal of unused explosives;
(2) what restrictions were placed by his Department upon the purchaser of the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli. regarding the use or the further disposal of that land;
(3) when he disposed of the land and buildings of the former royal ordnance factory of Pembrey, Llanelli; and to whom;
(4) when the manufacture and production of explosives and all other related activities ceased at the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli;
(5) when his Department was consulted by Llanelli borough council as to the procedures to be adopted for the removal of any contamination from the land of the former royal ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli.
§ Mr. AitkenThe production of explosives at the Royal Ordnance factory at Pembrey ceased upon its closure towards the end of 1964. On 10 June 1965, 96.682 acres of320W freehold land there were sold to Westcol Construction. In the same year a further 516.5 acres of leasehold land reverted to the lessors, the Forestry Commission. We have no record that any restrictions were placed on the purchaser regarding the use of future disposal of the land. Due to the considerable lapse in time since the disposal of this site, we no longer have detailed records of the extent of clearance and decontamination work which was carried out on the land prior to its sale. However, our records indicate that action was taken, and that responsibility for clearance of the freehold site passed to Westcol Construction upon sale, in line with our normal policy. Following the site's sale, clearance of unexploded ordnance was carried out on two occasions: the first in 1977, the second in the period 1983–85, on each occasion following written approaches from the Llanelli borough council. We have no record of any approach from the council regarding procedures to be adopted for the removal of any chemical contamination. Responsibility for the land now rests with Llanelli borough council which I understand, has recently commissioned a contamination survey to be carried out on the site.