§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given in the last five years resulting from British nuclear testing in Kiribati. [73970]
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§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence arranged and took part in a specialist Reconnaissance Survey on Kiritimati during September 1998 to identify the types and quantities of waste materials, including an assessment of environmental risks, arising from the island's use as a base for the United Kingdom's 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 in the MOD. Preparatory work is currently underway with the actual clean-up work on site expected to start in 2003.