§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the clean-up and environmental restoration of the contamination caused by nuclear weapons testing on Christmas Island since 1992. [87727]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence arranged and took part in a specialist Reconnaissance Survey to Kiritimati during September 1998. This was to identify the types and quantities of waste materials, including an assessment of environmental risks associated with the nuclear test programme in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
A further visit was made to Kiritimati in August 2000 by MOD and independent specialists to gather further detailed information for the proposed clean-up project.
The clean-up of the waste material is to be undertaken by contractors appointed and managed by specialists from the MOD. Preparatory work is currently under way with the actual clean-up work on site expected to start during 2003.