§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if depleted uranium ammunition has been test fired at(a) the Pendine Land Range and (b) the Castlemartin Range. [146749]
§ Mr. SpellarDepleted uranium ammunition has not been test fired at either the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency range, Pendine or the Army's Castlemartin range.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Royal Navy has tungsten-based ammunition for its Phalanx CIWS. [146901]
§ Mr. SpellarI confirm that the Royal Navy does have tungsten-based ammunition for its Phalanx CIWS. Tungsten-based ammunition was brought into service with the Royal Navy in 1997.
§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which exercises in each of the past 10 years depleted uranium ammunition has been fired by(a) the Army and (b) the Royal Navy. [146900]
§ Mr. SpellarNo ordnance containing depleted uranium has ever been fired by the Army during exercises.
Each of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers and Assault Ships are fitted with the Phalanx weapon system and this system is capable of firing both depleted uranium and tungsten ammunition. These vessels are required to conduct Pre-Action Calibration checks, system sensitivity firings and an annual target firing against a towed target. Such firings may on occasion take place during exercises. A detailed interrogation of individual ship logs to determine which firings took place during specific exercises, or which utilised tungsten since its introduction to service, could not be undertaken without disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those local authority areas in which depleted uranium-tipped ammunition was(a) tested and (b) used by HM forces; if the local authorities were informed of such testing and firing; what the incidence of leukaemia and other cancer-related illnesses is (i) in those areas and (ii) in similar local authority areas where such firing and testing has not taken place; and if he will make a statement. [146427]
§ Mr. SpellarI will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what depleted uranium weapons manufactured in the United Kingdom have been tested at sites abroad; and when and where the tests were. [145284]
§ Mr. SpellarThe 120mm anti-armour rounds Challenger Armament 1 (CHARM 1) for Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank and Challenger Armament 3 (CHARM 3) 539W for Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank are the only operational ammunition natures of UK manufacture using depleted Uranium (DU) that have been fired abroad.
The following non-operational firings have taken place outside the United Kingdom:
Ammunition Location Date CHARM 1 Saudi Arabia Early 19911 CHARM 3 France July 19902 CHARM 3 United States of America September 19902 CHARM 3 United States of America October 20003 1 Operation Granby/work up training 2 Development trial 3 In-service trial A technology Demonstration Programme for an enhanced DU round led to the following testing:
United States of America—March 1991 (concept trial).United States of America—September 1991 (concept trial).
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received concerning a ban on the use of depleted uranium ammunition by the armed forces. [145937]
§ Mr. SpellarBetween Christmas 2000 and 22 January 2001, my Department has received 77 written representations from members of the public expressing concern over depleted uranium (DU) ammunition. Of these, 14 called for a ban on the use of DU.