HC Deb 05 March 2001 vol 364 cc17-8W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much depleted uranium was used by each country in the allied forces during the Gulf war. [147377]

Mr. Spellar

As far as we are aware, only UK and US forces used ammunition containing depleted uranium The number of British service personnel injured in Northern Ireland since August 1969 is detailed in the table.

Number
Army4 6,146
RN5 165
RAF5 154
1 These figures include regular soldiers, full and part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Regiment. They also include members of the TA, who do not play any part in security operations in Northern Ireland, but it is not possible to extract these figures from the overall totals.
2 Figures are from August 1969–19 February 2001 and relate to terrorist activity. 434 deaths occurred while the individual was on duty.
3 Figures are from 1 January 1974–19 February 2001 and include injuries/deaths from all causes.
4 Figures are from August 1969–19 February 2001 and relate primarily to injuries which were incurred while on duty; however, the manner in which data have historically been compiled means some injuries incurred while off duty may also be included.
5 Figures are from 1 January 1976–19 February 2001 and relate primarily to injuries which were incurred while on duty; however, the manner in which data have historically been compiled means some injuries incurred while off duty may also be included.

Information about the number of widows receiving pensions where bereavement is attributable to tours of duty in Northern Ireland is not readily available. Neither my Department nor the War Pensions Agency categorises these pensions according to the geographical area in which bereavement took place. This information could be obtained only by a manual search of all pension files, which could only be done at disproportionate cost.