§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunitions were(a) deployed to the Gulf region in 2002, (b) deployed to the Gulf region in 2003, (c) fired during the conflict in Iraq and (d) recovered during UK-led clean-up operations; and if he will make a statement. [133712]
§ Mr. IngramI am withholding information about numbers of rounds of depleted uranium (DU) munitions deployed on operations in accordance with exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. With regards to DU firings during the recent conflict in Iraq, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 4 June 2003.662W Official Report, column 445W to the hon. Member for Islington North (Mr. Corbyn). Surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, however the details of DU findings are not held centrally.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes his Department has(a) planned, (b) discussed, (c) initiated and (d) concluded to (i) locate and (ii) collect depleted uranium (A) ammunition and (B) ammunition fragments in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [133713]
§ Mr. IngramAll surplus depleted uranium (DU) ammunition has now been returned to the UK. Obvious surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered.