§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what areas in the Irish sea, northern channel and off the coast of Northern Ireland have been used in the disposal of world war two munitions since 1964; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many discarded world war two munition devices have come ashore on the British mainland over the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make a statement on sea disposal of surplus world war two munitions since 1964; if the disposal included chemical weapons and gas canisters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThere are no records of world war two vintage munitions having been disposed of by sea dumping after 1964. In the last five years Royal Navy clearance diving units have conducted 3,268 munitions clearance tasks below the highwater mark on the British mainland. Available records do not identify the type, origin or number of devices dealt with.