§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current procedure for disposing of surplus430W explosives and other munitions materials; and if he will make a statement. [4985]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotWhen explosives and other munitions material are declared surplus, the preferred option is for disposal by sale under strict Government guidelines. If this is not possible, either for safety reasons or because the material has become time-expired, it is disposed of in one of the following ways:
by an approved contractor;by the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation using a rotary kiln with environmental emission controls or by burning in the open under strictly controlled conditions;locally by technically qualified personnel on licensed demolition grounds on MOD property.