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Royal Observer Corps
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what public commendation or recognition his Department has given in respect of the Royal Observer Corps; and if he will make a statement. [8452]
Mr. Soames: On 8 December 1995, to commemorate the stand-down of the remaining element of the Royal Observer Corps, invited guests, officers and other ranks attended a ceremony at the Royal Air Force college, Cranwell to lodge the Royal Observer Corps banner in college hall. To mark this occasion, I wrote formally to the commandant of the Royal Observer Corps paying tribute to the men and women of the corps who have given so much to their sovereign and to their country. Throughout they have carried out their duties with honour and dedication.
Low Flying
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the applicability of EU directives to compensation arrangements for pain, suffering and loss of amenity arising from military low flying over inhabited areas of Great Britain. [8240]
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Mr. Soames: We are unaware of any relevant new or impending EU directives having a bearing on the present compensation arrangements arising from military low flying.
Gulf War
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received and what research he has commissioned about the use of chemical or biological weapons by the Iraqis during the Gulf war and the effect of such weapons on British service men. [9063]
Mr. Soames: There was no evidence of any use of chemical or biological weapons during the Gulf war. Scientific and medical investigations have since confirmed that there is also no evidence that British service men have suffered from any effects which could be attributed to the use of chemical or biological weapons.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions United Kingdom authorities were consulted before the United States of America used depleted weapons in the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement. [9030]
Mr. Soames: There were no such consultations nor was there a need for them. Depleted uranium ammunition is a standard part of the inventory of both UK and US armed forces.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of depleted uranium in the Gulf war; what assessment has been made by his Department of the longer-term consequences of its use with particular reference to United Kingdom military personnel subject; what plans he has to develop depleted uranium as a weapon for the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [9029]
Mr. Soames: The British armed forces are equipped with two kinds of ammunition containing depleted uranium, DU: 120 mm tank ammunition, some small quantities of which were fired by Challenger tanks during the Gulf conflict; and 20 mm ammunition for the Royal Navy's Vulcan phalanx point defence system which, apart from some rounds fired for proving purposes, was not used in the Gulf. There is no evidence that members of the British forces were exposed to harmful levels of radiation. My Department has, however, run a programme of reassurance monitoring for personnel who were concerned that they may have been exposed to DU. This monitoring has shown no detectable DU contamination of any individual. Stocks of an anti-tank round, charm 1, which utilises a depleted uranium penetrator, are available for use by Challenger 1 tanks. Development of the charm 3 round for Challenger 2 tanks, which will also use depleted uranium, will be completed by the end of 1996. Stocks of DU ammunition for the phalanx weapons system are available for use by the Royal Navy. There are no other current plans to purchase further naval weapons systems which employ DU.
Munitions Dumping
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will hold an inquiry into the
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condition of munitions deposited in deep water, as marked on the relevant charts, just south of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement; [9189]
- (2) what representations he has received in respect of sea bed munition dumping, as marked on the relevant charts, in the vicinity of the inner sound of Raasay; and if he will make a statement. [9188]
Mr. Soames: My Department has no plans to hold an inquiry. Current scientific advice indicates that dump sites present no significant risk to human health or the marine environment if left undisturbed. My Department has no record of any representations about the inner sound of Raasay munition dumping ground.
Merchant Vessels
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many merchant vessels have been chartered by his Department for exercises and military support operations in 1995; and how many of these were under the British flag. [9495]
Mr. Soames: Some 91 merchant vessels have been chartered for exercises and military support operations in 1995, of which 17 were under the British flag.
Trident (Nuclear Incidents)
Mrs Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what emergency berths exist in Scotland for Trident in the event of a nuclear reactor or weapon incident; and where they are situated. [9410]
Mr. Soames: No berths are designated specifically for emergency use. The normal operating berths for Trident submarines are at the Clyde submarine base, Faslane and at the royal naval armaments depot, Coulport.
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the safety of (a) military and (b) civilian populations in the event of a nuclear leak from Trident; and if he will make a statement. [9411]
Mr. Soames: In the event of an accident involving any defence nuclear material in the UK, the Ministry of Defence nuclear accident response organisation would work in conjunction with the appropriate civil agencies to ensure an effective response to safeguard the public and departmental employees. Where appropriate, information has been issued by the MOD under the provisions of the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations 1992; public safety schemes exist in respect of all UK berths used by nuclear-powered submarines; and guidance on appropriate protective measures in the event of an accident during the transportation of nuclear weapons has been issued to local authorities and the emergency services. These arrangements were described on pages 39 and 40 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995".
Stolen and Lost Property
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report,
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column 102, about stolen and lost property (a) how many weapons were lost or missing in each period and service and (b) what proportion of (i) all losses and (ii) weapon loss occurred in Northern Ireland. [9723]
Mr. Soames: Figures for weapons reported as lost or missing in each period and service could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A central register detailing losses to this level of information is not held. Details of losses were given in my answer to the hon. Member on 9 January, Official Report, column 102. The proportion of those losses occurring in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years is:
| Per cent. | |
|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 3.2 |
| 1991-92 | 1.7 |
| 1992-93 | 1.6 |
| 1993-94 | 2.6 |
| 1994-95 | (5)5.2 |
(5)The figure for 1994-95 does not take into account figures for Germany for which returns are not yet available.
Gulf War Syndrome
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the dates on which, (b) the locations where and (c) the units which during the Gulf war were ordered to take nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets because of an assessed threat of possible chemical agent attack. [9619]
Mr. Soames: During the conduct of Operation Granby, which ran from 9 August 1990 to 11 April 1991, the assessed threat of chemical weapon attack in the theatre of operations was regarded as sufficiently high to necessitate the issuing of orders for nerve agent pre-treatment, set tablets to be taken during the period from 18 January 1991, following the start of the air war, to 1 March 1991, when hostilities ceased. The orders applied to all units and personnel in, or deploying into, theatre.
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many volunteer reservists served with the Royal Air Force in the Gulf war; and how many of them have notified his Department that they are suffering from the condition known as Gulf war syndrome. [9620]
Mr. Soames: Records indicate that a total of 286 Royal Auxiliary Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel served with the Royal Air Force during Operation Granby, of whom approximately 140 deployed to the Gulf theatre. Of those Gulf veterans who have notified my Department of health concerns which they attribute to service in the Gulf, four individuals have indicated that they served with the RAF as reservists.
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