Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010.

Armed Forces: Depleted Uranium

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the Rule 43 report of HM Coroner for the Black Country District of 18 September in the case of Stuart Raymond Dyson deceased; and what action they propose to prevent further deaths from ingestion of, or exposure to, depleted uranium by military and civilian personnel in areas of conflict.

Answer: I will place a copy of the department's response to the Coroner for the Black Country District's Rule 43 report in the Library of the House. In line with reports by independent expert bodies including the Royal Society, International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organisation it is the Government's view that depleted uranium (DU) is both weakly radioactive and chemically toxic to about the same extent as lead. In relation to the use of DU munitions we base our risk assessments on the best available scientific advice and routinely monitor developments in the scientific literature.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 724; 716 c5WA
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2010-0048
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects: Death Coroners Depleted uranium Veterans Dyson, Stuart
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk