§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of the use of uranium-based munitions by NATO forces in Kosovo. [101200]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Government have not commissioned any assessment of the environmental effects of using such munitions in Kosovo but the Joint UN Environment Programme/UN Commission on Human Settlements issued its report "The Kosovo Conflict: Consequences for the Environment" on 5 October 1999. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House. We are aware, however, of the concerns that have been expressed about the use of uranium-based munitions and have commissioned advice from officials within the Department on what further work we might do to improve our knowledge of how depleted uranium in ammunition behaves in the natural environment.