§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the recently published report by the United Nations Environment Programme into the environmental and health impact of the use of depleted uranium munitions by NATO forces during the conflict over Kosovo. [145293]
§ Mr. SpellarThe UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) report has not yet been published, but is expected around March 2001.
UNEP announced its intention in September 2000 to conduct field studies of sites in Kosovo that were struck by ordnance containing depleted uranium during the Kosovo crisis and undertook a field Mission during November 2000. The Mission to Kosovo took vegetation, soil and water samples and radiological measurements in chosen target sites. The Mission also planned to undertake an analysis of the toxicological situation. The samples have been sent to a number of European laboratories for further analysis. UNEP announced some preliminary findings following this field Mission, by way of press releases. When the final report is published, we will make an assessment of its findings.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy to sanction the use of munitions containing depleted uranium in future operations in which the United Kingdom is involved; and if he will make a statement. [144736]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 11 January 2001]: Depleted uranium (DU) ammunition provides a battle winning military capability. Alternative materials are not as effective. Therefore DU will remain part of our arsenal for the foreseeable future because, when this country commits our forces to conflict, we fight to win. Our troops need the best available equipment to enable them to do this. To deny them a legitimate capability would be quite wrong.