§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the outcome of the major incident co-ordinating group meeting held at the chemical and biological defence division of DERA at Porton Down on 1 May, in relation to unidentified buried ordnance at the defence nuclear, biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner; who attended that meeting; and when the next meeting will be held. [43924]
§ 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. Robert Key, dated 3 June 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your question asking for details of the outcome of the major incident co-ordinating group meeting which took place at the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), Porton Down on 1 May. In particular, you asked for information in relation to the discussion on the unidentified buried ordnance at the nuclear, biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner.Firstly, I should explain that Headquarters Land Command, not CBD/DERA, is responsible for the Defence Nuclear Biological Chemical Centre (DNBCC) at Winterbourne Gunner. That said, CBD/DERA would expect to be involved in an advisory and support capacity in any plan to clear the land. The meeting on 1 May was a 208W routine meeting, the venue for which was provided by CBD/DERA. It was chaired by Wiltshire's Assistant Chief Constable and the minutes were taken by the County Emergency Planning Officer, Emergency Planning Unit, Wiltshire. He should be able to provide you with a record of the meeting and let you know the arrangements for future meetings.I am sorry that I am unable to be more helpful on this occasion.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when(a) Wiltshire Constabulary, (b) Wiltshire Fire Brigade and (c) the County Emergency Planning Officer for Wiltshire were consulted as part of Operation Abbott concerning expended and unexpended mortar bombs and shells; and what assessment he has made of how many contained mustard gas and phosgene. [43926]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Wiltshire Constabulary and the County Emergency Planning Officer (CEPO) for Wiltshire County Council, also acting on behalf of Wiltshire Fire Service, were advised in July last year of the possible need for an Army clearance operation in Winterbourne Gunner, to be called Operation Abbott. However, further consultation was postponed pending a detailed survey of the land in question, and subsequent discussion in my Department of the need for a clearance operation. The Wiltshire Fire Service and the CEPO, also acting on behalf of Wiltshire Constabulary, were then invited to a meeting on 18 May this year, to discuss my Department's current position regarding the clearance.
My Department has made no assessment of how much ordnance expended at Winterbourne Gunner contained phosgene; however, on the evidence of ordnance that has emerged at Winterbourne Gunner in the past, we estimate that some 15% of ordnance fired there might have contained either chemical agents or harmless chemical simulants.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what abandoned ordnance was found at Home Farm, West Cottingworth, York, at RAF Escrick, at RAF Clifton, York and at Clifton Moor and Royde Mills, Huddersfield; if the ground has now been cleared; and at what cost. [43927]
§ Mr. SpellarRAF Escrick, situated on Home Farm land at West Cottingworth, was cleared in 1995 in an exercise known as Operation Capsicum Jar. This clearance operation removed six live 61b ground bombs, 2 inert 61b ground bombs and some 4,600 flame floats. Costs of the clearance are not held centrally, and could now be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but we know 728 man-days were spent on the task. Assuming average pay rates this would equate to a rough order of manpower costs of some £30,000. There would have been further costs for plant hired during the clearance operation, but these are not available.
We are unable to find any reference to clearance exercises at RAF Clifton.
We believe that Royde Mills was an ICI establishment, which was sold to the local authority in 1991.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the chemical and biological defence division of DERA was first asked to prepare a plan for the clearance of ordnance and other metal objects from fields adjacent to the Defence Nuclear Biological and Chemical Centre 209W at Winterbourne Gunner; what was their estimate of the cost; and what were the reasons he decided not to proceed. [43925]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Chemical and Biological Defence, CBD, sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, has not been asked to prepare a plan for such a clearance. It has provided expert advice to Headquarters Land Command, which has the responsibility for preparing such a plan in this instance, and we would also expect CBD/DERA to provide technical advice and support in the disposal of any chemical weapons materials were a clearance operation to be mounted. No decision has been taken to mount or not to mount a clearance operation at this site.