HC Deb 18 January 1996 vol 269 cc776-8W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) statutory controls and (b) other safeguards governed the dumping of munitions in Beaufort's dyke during the period since 1966. [9853]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: There were no statutory controls on dumping at sea prior to the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 which was replaced in 1985 by part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act. The dumping of munitions by the Ministry of Defence was governed by appropriate operational procedures.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will extend the scope of the investigations into the dumping of munitions in the Irish channel to include the firth of Clyde and the area of the sea bed around the natural gas pipeline constructed in 1993 from Scotland to the Irish Republic. [9854]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: Details of further survey work in the area will be announced in due course.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what investigation his Department commissioned into the washing up of munitions along the south-west coast of Scotland and on the Isle of Man in 1993; and what were the findings. [9868]

(2) what actions were taken by his Department in 1993 to respond to public concern about the washing up of munitions along the south-west coast of Scotland. [9869]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 17 January 1996]There was no direct Scottish Office involvement in or investigation of this incident which was dealt with by the emergency services.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigations his Department carried out on the condition of munitions dumped at Beaufort's dyke prior to the recent study published by the marine laboratory at Aberdeen; and what studies have been undertaken by other Government Departments into this matter. [9851]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Scottish Office has not carried out any such investigations nor is my right hon. Friend aware of other Government Departments having done so.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions since 1966 the Scottish Office has been made aware of the washing up of munitions along the coast of the south-west of Scotland and the firth of Clyde. [9852]

Mr. Robertson

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: No consolidated record of such occurrences is held by the Scottish Office.