HC Deb 15 October 1996 vol 282 c859W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been commissioned by his Department into(a) the degree of contamination and (b) the prospects for remedial action at (i) military bases in the United Kingdom and (ii) dependent territories abroad. [40426]

Mr. Soames

Within the United Kingdom my Department is introducing a procedure of land quality assessment to establish the condition of individual sites on the defence estate and where appropriate make recommendations for and implementation of remediation. Given the extent of the defence estate a prioritised programme for this work is being drawn up. For dependent territories abroad, a similar land quality assessment process is being adopted, where this meets the requirements of the host country.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received this year from the Celtic League concerning the environmental consequences of pollution at and leakages from existing and retired military bases in the United Kingdom. [40427]

Mr. Soames

None. The league has asked for environmental information about UK military bases, but it has not yet confirmed that it would be prepared to meet any MOD administrative costs for researching the information due under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department has commissioned on the levels of(a) toxic and (b) other pollution at military bases in Wales; and what publications his Department has issued in this respect over the past 12 months. [40518]

Mr. Soames

My Department is introducing a procedure of land quality assessment to establish the condition of individual sites and detect the presence of contaminants on the defence estate, and where appropriate make recommendations for and implementation of remediation. Given the extent of the defence estate, a prioritised programme for this work is being drawn up. Land quality assessment work is being undertaken at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency sites at Aberporth, Llanbedr and Pendine, and an assessment of RAF Caerwent was commissioned on 4 October 1996.

My Department has not issued any publications about the level of contamination at military sites in 'Wales during the last 12 months.

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