HC Deb 09 March 2001 vol 364 cc357-8W
Dr. Jack Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which of his Department's test locations in the United Kingdom the firing of depleted uranium projectiles has taken place; how many test firings have been made at each location; what arrangements are in place for the protection and monitoring of people and the environment; and if he will make a statement. [144771]

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if depleted uranium has been a component of munitions used on(a) Salisbury Plain training area, (b) Porton Down, (c) Lulworth ranges and (b) Shoeburyness. [145945]

Mr. Hoon

[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 2001, c. 42W]: While the previous answer was believed to be correct at the time on the basis of the information available, additional information has now come to light which suggests that AWE firings may have continued until 1986. This information is contained in 1980's notebooks held at DERA Fort Halstead which logged the movement of experimental DU munitions from that site to the then AWE site at Foulness. There were no matching records at DERA shoeburyness since in the 1980s the AWE site at Foulness was a separate establishment.

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