HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc497-8W
Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what changes there have been to the British Army's practice in clearing unexploded ordnance in foreign training grounds used by our forces since his Department's payment of compensation to the victims of British munitions in Kenya; [80291]

(2) whether his Department has adopted guidelines to ensure that all unexploded munitions are cleared from foreign military training grounds used by British forces. [80289]

Mr. Ingram

The British Army employs the same robust procedures for clearing unexploded ordnance overseas as it does in the United Kingdom. In Kenya there has been an increase in Explosive Ordnance Clearance (EOC) in the last two years, in order to minimise the risk to local civilians. This work includes the location and destruction of unexploded munitions irrespective of which nation's armed forces have fired them. No change in practice have been made subsequent to compensation payments.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to contract clearance of unexploded ordnance at foreign military training sites used by British forces to specialist firms with appropriate expertise. [80290]

Dr. Moonie

The tables set out the figures available relating to applications for war disablement pension, from members of the Mercantile Marine and eligible members of the Armed Forces. A separate figure for rejected claims is not available. Information on applications before 1996 is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Ingram

There are currently no plans for the Ministry of Defence to contract out ordnance clearance on foreign military training sites.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Kenyan nationals are locally employed in assisting the British Army to clear unexploded ordnance at the Archer's Post training ground in Kenya; and how much of the training ground has been cleared. [80219]

Mr. Ingram

The British Army employs two Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) as Range Officers on behalf of the Kenyan Department of Defence (DoD). These LECs do not participate in the destruction of munitions, as this is the responsibility of Army personnel. The British Army conducts clearance operations on all areas of ranges that it uses for live firing.

Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision the British Army has made to educate Kenyan civilians who live and work near the military training ground at Archer's Post about associated dangers. [80292]

Mr. Ingram

Each year, the British Army conducts an education programme for the local civilians regarding the hazards of unexploded munitions. This informs people in the Archer's Post area, including the nomadic farmers, of the different types of Kenyan and other munitions that they might find in the area.