HC Deb 13 March 1998 vol 308 cc428-9W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many properties which manufactured or stored mustard gas are still owned by the Ministry of Defence; and if he will list them. [33797]

Mr. Spellar

Mustard gas was manufactured at certain Ministry of Supply factories none of which remain on the defence estate. Further research will be required to identify storage sites which are still owned by my Department. I will write to my hon. Friend once these inquiries are complete.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the conclusions were of the survey carried out in 1986–87 into the extent of contamination and the cost and feasibility of decontamination of six former chemical warfare storage sites in the United Kingdom; for what reason this survey was carried out; who carried out this survey; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of this survey. [33795]

Mr. Spellar

My officials are seeking to discover the extent of any survey work carried out and whether the relevant reports are still extant. I will write to my hon. Friend once these inquiries are complete.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many surveys have been conducted into the contamination of and pollution from the former chemical warfare filling and storage sites at(a) Norton Disney/Swinderby in Lincolnshire and (b) RAF Risley in Bedfordshire since 1980. [33796]

Mr. Spellar

According to available records, since 1980, five surveys have been carried out at the former Forward Filling Depot at RAF Norton Disney and this site was sold in 1997. There have been six surveys of Risley. The surveys include revalidation of earlier studies, radiological and chemical surveys, and Land Quality Assessments.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent work has been carried out to remove mustard gas decontamination from the former chemical warfare filling and storage site at RAF Risley in Bedfordshire; for what reason this work was necessary; when this work is expected to end; who currently owns the site; if compensation has been paid out to local residents in connection with contamination of the site; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of Operation Coleman Keg which was conducted in 1988 to remove contamination from the site. [33798]

Mr. Spellar

The major work to remove mustard gas contamination from the MOD-owned Risley site in Bedfordshire was carried out in 1988 under Operation Coleman Keg. I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

In 1996, independent consultants were engaged to assess the current condition of the land. That work has subsequently been revalidated by the further surveys carried out in 1997. The latest report has recently been received from the consultants and its contents are currently being evaluated. An executive summary of the consultants' report will be made available to the Bedfordshire County Council.

Separately, the RAF' s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is engaged on clearing ordnance and associated material from the site. This clearance work is expected to complete by the end of the year.

No claims for compensation have been received.