HC Deb 29 January 2001 vol 362 cc60-1W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to request the Defence Radiological Protection Service to update its 1993 report on the exposure by British military personnel to depleted uranium during the Gulf war. [145300]

Mr. Spellar

My Department's position on the exposure of British military personnel to depleted uranium during the Gulf conflict was set out on 19 March 1999 in a paper entitled, "Testing for the presence of Depleted Uranium in UK Veterans of the Gulf conflict: the Current Position". Since then the US Department of Defence has published its own assessment of possible levels of depleted uranium to which troops may have been exposed in the Gulf. These levels are lower than those contained in the Defence Radiological Protection Service reports of 1993, and our 1999 paper. We will analyse the differences.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) shells and (b) bullets containing (i) uranium and (ii) depleted uranium were fired by the Army on ranges in Surrey in the last 10 years. [147070]

Mr. Spellar

No munitions containing uranium or depleted uranium have been fired on the ranges in Surrey.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what uranium pharmacological tests he proposes should be undertaken on civilians living in areas of depleted uranium debris; [147194]

(2) if he will conduct uranium pharmacological tests on civilians in Kosovo. [147195]

Mr. Spellar

The health of civilians is the responsibility of their Government or, as in the case of Kosovo, the United Nations. Although the UK will provide help and advice if requested, it is up to these relevant authorities to decide what tests, if any, should be carried out.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has received on measurements of uranium 235 among Kosovans. [147196]

Mr. Spellar

None. The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any such measurements being taken.

Mr. Wigley

To 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. Spellar

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 2001, c. 537W]: We have received a petition from the Campaign Against Depleted Uranium.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations have been received from the campaign against depleted uranium. [145295]

Mr. Spellar

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 2001, c. 420W]: We have received a petition from the Campaign Against Depleted Uranium.