§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reviews he is currently conducting on the(a) health and (b) environmental implications of the firing of depleted uranium shells at (i) Kirkcudbright test range at Dundrennan, (ii) Eskmeals in Cumbria and (iii) in Iraq, by British forces. [40633]
§ Mr. SpellarComprehensive environmental sampling programmes are in place at both Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright ranges where depleted uranium ammunition is fired. To date, calculated public radiation doses from all direct and indirect routes have been trivial, representing much less than 1 per cent. of the national annual radiation dose limit for members of the public. These monitoring programmes will continue until such time as the Environmental Agency considers that no further monitoring is necessary. The monitoring data is provided to the relevant local councils and environmental agencies.
No specific review of the environmental and health effects of firing depleted uranium ammunition in Iraq has been undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, nor is any review currently being carried out. To the best of our 129W knowledge, no specific UK studies have been conducted into the potential environmental effects of depleted uranium contamination on the battlefield. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has, however, undertaken an assessment of the health effects on personnel exposed to depleted uranium under battlefield conditions. A summary of this report, 'Radiological and Chemical Hazards of Depleted Uranium', has already been placed in the Library of the House. This report concluded that there was no indication that any UK troops had been subjected to harmful over-exposure to depleted uranium during the Gulf War.