HC Deb 05 February 2001 vol 362 cc357-8W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the responsibility of(a) his Department and (b) the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in respect of research undertaken into the effects of depleted uranium use. [147387]

Mr. Spellar

The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) undertakes whatever research is required of it by its customers, of which the Ministry of Defence is a main customer. The MOD draws on all available authoritative scientific knowledge on the effects of depleted uranium use, including information from DERA.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the armed forces first used depleted uranium ammunition; which units were involved; when such ammunition was used in action in the last 10 years; by which units; and if he will make a statement. [148113]

Mr. Spellar

Depleted uranium (DU) based ammunition was first brought into service by the Royal Navy in 1982 for use in its Phalanx close-in weapons system. The Royal Navy (RN) has 36 Phalanx systems, which are in service on all Type 42 destroyers, HMS Ocean, one aircraft carrier, HMS Fearless and the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Fort Victoria and Fort George. The RN has not fired Phalanx in combat. It is regularly fired for maintenance and system checks, however, including small quantities in the Gulf conflict in 1990–91, and in the Adriatic. All these firings are into the sea.

The first operational use of DU munitions by UK armed forces took place in 1991, during the Gulf conflict. Limited amounts of 120 mm DU munitions were issued to the three Challenger-equipped UK armoured units in the Gulf: the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and the 14/20 Hussars. Additional rounds were fired by UK forces during earlier work-up training to establish the round's mean point of impact.

The army has not fired DU munitions on operations or in training since the Gulf conflict.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has collated about the effects of(a) the use, handling and firing and (b) the clearing up of cartridges from depleted uranium ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [148116]

Mr. Spellar

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

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