§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether depleted uranium is present in any fireworks, whether manufactured in the United Kingdom or manufactured elsewhere and imported. [HL3660]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The Health and Safety Executive's Explosives Inspectorate has wide experience of licensing and inspecting sites used for the manufacture and storage of fireworks. It knows of no cases where depleted uranium (DU) has been used in fireworks, whether they have been manufactured in the UK or imported from elsewhere. The primary function of DU in an explosives context is its use in munitions designed to penetrate armour plate. HSE is not aware of any valid contribution that the material would make to a pyrotechnic composition and in its view the cost of using it would be prohibitive.