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Ministry of Defence;Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

Answer

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the facilities for the testing and firing of ammunition which can be provided in the Shoeburyness ranges and which cannot be provided in any other United Kingdom range; and if he will make a statement on the significance of the uniqueness of those facilities. [19713] Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from John Chisholm to Sir Teddy Taylor, dated 12 March 1997: I have been asked to reply to your question about those facilities for the testing and firing of ammunition which can be provided by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) range at Shoeburyness, but which are not provided by any other United Kingdom range, since as Chief Executive of DERA, this is a matter for which I am responsible. The Shoeburyness range is currently the only facility in the UK for testing and firing of ammunition at which the following activities can be undertaken: (a) overwater recovery for shells to a range of up to 24 kilometres (b) long range ground to ground firing up to 17 kilometres (c) Environmental Test Centre for hazardous stores and weapons (d) ammunition disposal meeting Environment Agency requirements (e) fragmentation trials and other explosive trials requiring a danger area above 1800 metres radius The environmental testing of hazardous stores and weapons and ammunition disposal could be conducted elsewhere given investment in suitable facilities. However, for as long as there is a customer requirement for the range based capabilities in the UK, they are likely to have to be provided at Shoeburyness. I hope this is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

19713; 292 c233-4W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Ammunition Testing Firing ranges Shoeburyness