HC Deb 19 July 1993 vol 229 cc63-4W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the environmental effects of the test firing of depleted uranium shells.

Mr. Yeo

Ministry of Defence premises are exempt from the requirements of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, but controls equally stringent to those exercised over other users of radioactive materials are applied on an administrative basis by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. This includes a programme of inspection by HMIP inspectors. As part of this regulatory function, HMIP has received regular reports containing results of the environmental monitoring programme carried out by the MOD. HMIP is currently in the process of assessing the effects of test firing this ammunition on the environment.