§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information British forces in Kosovo have given to the Kosovar population about measures to reduce exposure to the insoluble radioactive alpha-particles given off by depleted uranium dust. [106925]
§ Mr. SpellarThe health risks from DU have been assessed as low. It is unlikely that anyone other than those in an armoured vehicle penetrated by a DU projectile, or those spending prolonged periods within a few tens of metres of the point at which a DU penetrator had impacted with a hard target, would be exposed to large enough quantities of particulate material for them to receive a radiation dose greater than 20–30 millisieverts. For comparison purposes, the UK statutory annual dose limit226W for employees aged 18 years and over is 50 millisieverts. Consequently, I understand that no specific advice has been promulgated by UNMIK for civilians in Kosovo.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information Her Majesty's Government have issued to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia about the radioactive and chemical toxicity of depleted uranium weapons. [106926]
§ Mr. SpellarNone. We are not aware of anyone in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who might have been exposed to possible contamination from depleted uranium munitions.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the US Department of Defense has informed his Department of the location of areas in(a) Serbia and (b) Kosovo which are contaminated with depleted uranium as a result of NATO bombing; [106930]
(2) if he will list the areas believed to be contaminated by depleted uranium munitions dropped during the NATO bombing of Kosovo and Serbia. [106929]
§ Mr. SpellarThe UN Secretary General has requested that NATO make available more detailed information concerning the use of Depleted Uranium (DU) rounds in Kosovo, including locations of use. NATO staff are currently preparing this detailed information for release to the United Nations. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to decontaminate those areas in the former Yugoslavia affected by depleted uranium munitions. [106927]
§ Mr. SpellarReconstruction and remediation is primarily a matter for civil agencies within the international community rather than specifically for NATO or the MOD. However, British forces have played their part—particularly in the clearance of unexploded ordnance.
The UN report on the consequences for the environment of the Kosovo conflict was published on 5 October 1999. Preliminary radiation measures were taken from destroyed military vehicles and from around the heavily damaged Police Station and Post Office in Pristina. No indications of DU contamination were found, although the report acknowledges that this does not exclude the possibility of DU-contaminated areas elsewhere in Kosovo.