HC Deb 13 March 2001 vol 364 cc506-7W
Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many DU penetrators have landed on the land area of the base since test firing of DU shells at Dundrennan range began; and, of these, how many have not been located. [151846]

Mr. Spellar

Since test firing of depleted uranium (DU) penetrator rounds first began at Kirkcudbright in 1982, there have been 14 strikes within the range area, including 10 projectiles that struck the ground itself and four that struck the target gantry. The four striking the gantry are believed to have proceeded directly out to sea. Three of those striking the ground have been recovered intact, two are believed to have proceeded out to sea and the other five remain buried in known locations.

The path a penetrator would take when entering the soil at high velocity is not easy to predict so, while their entry point is known with reasonable accuracy, the ultimate position of the buried penetrators is not. Recovery attempts would involve a prohibitively large area and depth to be excavated for each round, incurring exceptional cost and with little chance of success.

As I mentioned in the Adjournment debate on 7 February 2001, we are now planning to undertake a survey using a device called an Exploranium of the areas where fragmentation of projectiles may have occurred—ie firing points, landing areas, target areas—in order to locate remaining and hitherto undetected small pieces of DU. This survey is unlikely to be able to detect the buried rounds because of their depth. The contamination caused by fragments remaining on or just below the surface is regarded by the experts as minimal. However, should any areas be found to be contaminated they will be fenced off.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if test firing of DU shells at the Dundrennan range is exempt from regulation under the Ionising Radiations Regulations. [151847]

Mr. Spellar

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave, in relation to the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, to the Member for Ceridigion (Mr. Thomas) on 22 January 2001,Official Report, column 419W. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 contain some specific exemptions relating to the Ministry of Defence and military activities, but these have not been invoked in the case of DU firing. It is, moreover, our policy that, where UK statutory regulations are not applicable, we undertake by agreement with the Government Departments concerned that the principles and spirit of the regulations are to be followed, and arrangements introduced will be, so far as is reasonably practicable, at least as good as those required by legislation.