§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armour piercing and hard target penetrating warheads containing depleted uranium have been tested in(a) Scotland and (b) Dumfries and Galloway in each of the last 10 years. [18233]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 26 November 2001]The number of depleted uranium projectiles fired in Scotland in each of the last 10 years is listed. These tests have all taken place at the Kirkcudbright training area in Dumfries and Galloway.
Year Number 1991 666 1992 781 1993 682 1994 4,555 1995 280 1996 147 1997 749 1998 134 1999 111 2000 272 2001 1109 1 To date
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) items of equipment, (b) munitions and (c) all other property of his Department (i) which contain depleted uranium and (ii) in which depleted uranium has been used in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [18819]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2001,Official Report, column 519W, and the answer on 12 November 2001, Official Report, column 523W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) which indicate the uses to which depleted uranium is put by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in munitions and in other ways which mirror the widespread use of this material in the United Kingdom. No central record exists of where DU is or has been used or held over the past 10 years—in view of the nature of its use in MOD, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can say that DU in munitions will at various times have been found in ammunitions depots at Kineton, Longtown and Dean Hill, on ships fitted with Phalanx weapons systems, at the ranges at Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright, and at locations involved in nuclear weapons programmes. DU used for other purposes has been present in a number of the aircraft listed in the earlier answer that are the property of MOD, at RAF Stafford, at the research establishment at Fort Halstead, at sites involved in the naval propulsion programme, and at the Royal hospital, Haslar.