§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how (1) how many depleted uranium shells have been fired at the MOD/DERA base at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire, in each of the years since such firing started; [37611]
(2) how many of the depleted uranium shells fired at the MOD/DERA base at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire, have subsequently been recovered. [37612]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Alasdair Morgan, dated 7 April 1998:
As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency I have been asked to reply to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about depleted uranium shells at Kirkcudbrightshire.The number of depleted uranium rounds fired at the Kirkcudbright range each year since the start of the CHARM programme are as follows:
222W
Year Number 1982 9 1983 56 1984 179 1985 152 1986 118 1987 151 1988 272
Year Number 1989 434 1990 795 1991 666 1992 781 1993 982 1994 472 1995 280 1996 147 1997 749 1998 12 Total 6,255
During this period four of the CHARM penetrators fired have been recovered.I hope this information is useful.