§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement into circumstances surrounding the discovery and subsequent controlled detonation of explosive material in the vicinity of the Skye bridge on 30 April; and what steps he has taken to require a full search of the bridge and its environs to ensure the removal of any other similar items. [28176]
§ Mr.Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has recently taken receipt of a report on the incident by the Miller Group safety department following its request for an inquiry. Details of the circumstances of the incident are described in the report. I have therefore arranged to have a copy lodged in the Library.
The report concludes that the condition of the explosive material was such that its potential for causing harm was remote. It further concludes that the blasting sub-contractor had not encountered this problem before. As a consequence, the sub-contractor intends to amend his procedures to eliminate the possibility of such an incident recurring. The report will now be forwarded to the Health and Safety Executive for its attention. Both the sub-contractor and main contractor have carried out a thorough search of the area and have given their assurance that no similar items are present.