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29 Oct 2007 : Column 977W—continued
Grapple “Z” extracts
HMS Diana in light fallout—Op Mosaic
Maralinga and Christmas Island tests
Maralinga—contaminated waste x 2 files
Maralinga, Emu and Monte Bello x 7 files
Nuclear test series, code name Buffalo x 2 files
Operation Antler: preparation for UK nuclear weapon trials at Maralinga 1957
Operation Hurricane: preparation for United Kingdom nuclear weapon trials at Monte Bello 1952
Op Buffalo x 4 files
Operation Antler
Op Hurricane
Operation Hurricane/Tigress
Some solubility experiments on Mosaic and Grapple Fallout
Surface phenomena at Operation Hurricane
UK hydrogen bombs tests: details relating to operations “Mosaic” “Buffalo” and “Grapple”
UK hydrogen bomb tests code name “Grapple” x 3 files
UK megaton weapon tests at Christmas Island, code name Grapple X x 2 files
UK tests and experiments 1952 to 1963 x 2 files
UK tests and experiments 1952-1963 x 9 files.
Atomic energy—UK trials—Antler (formerly Sapphire and Volcano)
Buffalo
Grapple “Z” extracts
Hydrogen bomb trials x 3 file extracts
Hydrogen bomb trials—Grapple—Grapex
Nuclear tests codename Buffalo
UK megaton weapon tests at Christmas Island, code name Grapple X x 2 file extracts.
The Atomic Weapons Establishment holds on the same basis a large number of documents and files relating to nuclear tests. Their list has some 560 entries, and I will arrange for a copy of it to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the potential adverse health effects of the use of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane to control flies on Christmas and Malden Islands during their use in British nuclear warhead tests. [160509]
Derek Twigg: The UK atmospheric nuclear tests took place in areas with high levels of tropical insect pests which presented a risk to health. To minimise this, aerial spraying of DDT was carried out. There is no reliable evidence that DDT causes adverse health effects in humans and MOD has not undertaken any specific assessment of the risks associated with the use of DDT in nuclear testing.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department (a) was invited to attend and (b) attended the meetings on nuclear test veterans held on 15 and 16 October 2007 at the House of Commons, chaired by the hon. Members for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) and for Billericay (Mr. Baron). [160527]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence was invited to attend a parliamentary inquiry into the health effects of Operation Grapple (UK nuclear tests of 1957-58). MOD declined to be involved in this inquiry because its proposed scope is the subject of current civil proceedings. Two MOD officials attended the inquiry as observers.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on Fijian nationals who were present at the British nuclear tests in the Pacific. [160529]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence holds limited information on Fijian nationals who were present at the British nuclear tests in the Pacific. Records held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) contain four pages listing the names of Fijian nationals involved, and the tests for which they were present. No radiation doses were recorded for any Fijian national.
At Operation Mosaic, which took place in 1956 at the Monte Bello Islands off the North West coast of Australia, 32 Fijians were onboard HMS Newfoundland. Two Mosaic trials were held. At the first on 16 May, HMS Newfoundland was docked at Singapore. At the second on 19 June trial, the ship was approximately 565 nautical miles (approx. 940 km) west north west of the Monte Bello Islands.
Operation Grapple comprised three trials which took place in May and June of 1957 off the Maiden Island; 42 Fijians were onboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Warrior, which was the Forward Area Control Ship for the trials, and the Task Force flagship. The flagship acted as the control centre for a group of ships stationed off Maiden Island during the trials.
At a later trial, Operation Grapple Y, 23 Fijians were stationed at HMS Resolution. The Grapple Y trial took place on 28 April 1958 off the south east point of Kiritimati (formerly Christmas Island). From December 1957, HMS Resolution was the name used for the group of naval personnel based onshore at Kiritimati. HMS Resolution was situated at Port London, on the north west side of the island, approximately 43 km from the point of detonation.
At a subsequent series of trials, Operation Grapple Z, 16 Fijians were attached to 269 Squadron. The series comprised four nuclear detonations at the south-east point of Kiritimati, which took place in August and September 1958. The duties performed by 269 Squadron during Operation Grapple Z were reconnaissance, meteorological patrol and air-sea rescue.
More widely, AWE records indicate that the ‘Fijian Military Force’ was under 12 Independent Field Squadron from April 1958 to February 1959; under 36 Corps Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, from February 1959 to November 1959; and under 73 (Christmas Island) Squadron, Royal Engineers, from November 1959 to April 1960.
Royal Marines: Deployment
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to relocate the Royal Marine training hulk HMS Rame Head from Fareham Creek; and if he will make a statement. [161754]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: HMS Rame Head is no longer being used as a training facility. She is currently being surveyed in order to allow for eventual disposal and appropriate re-cycling.
Royal Marines: Training
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the training conducted for Turnchapel-based 539 Assault Squadron is. [161752]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Individual vocational training is conducted by 10 (Landing Craft) Training Squadron based at Poole. This training is carried out in Poole Harbour and from the Solent to Plymouth. Surf and wading training is conducted at 11 (Amphibious Trials and Training) Squadron at Instow in North Devon.
Collective training is carried out locally in Plymouth Sound with more advanced training, usually involving amphibious ships, in the South Coast training areas or the northern training areas around Cape Wrath. 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines also conduct bilateral training exercises with navies from other countries outside UK waters.
Royal Navy: Training
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where training for the landing craft which support (a) HMS Ocean, (b) HMS Albion and (c) HMS Bulwark is conducted. [161753]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Individual vocational training is conducted by 10 (Landing Craft) Training Squadron based at Poole. This training is carried out in Poole Harbour and from the Solent to Plymouth. Surf and wading training is conducted at 11 (Amphibious Trials and Training) Squadron at Instow in North Devon.
Once qualified, personnel join the major Assault Squadrons in the Amphibious Task Group (HMS Ocean, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark) and receive further training as appropriate.
Seismic Monitoring
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what seismological recording stations there are in the UK. [159676]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The national seismic monitoring network of the UK is operated by the British Geological Survey (BGS), a wholly owned Research Centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Table 1 provides a list of the sites and locations.
In addition, there are six stations owned by the Ministry of Defence, one of which is used for comprehensive test ban treaty verification work (Eskdalemuir Array). The full list is given in Table 2.
| Table 1: National seismic monitoring network | |||
| Site code | Name | Latitude | Longitude |
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