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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice she has given to aid workers deployed in Kosovo with the support of her Department in respect of hazards posed by the residual radioactivity remaining from the use of depleted uranium shells by allied forces in Kosovo. [117070] Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 27 January 2000, Official Report, column 225W, where he stated that the health risks from depleted uranium (DU) are assessed as generally low. However civilian mine clearance organisations have regular contact with many types of unexploded ordnance. KFOR provided the United Nations Mines Action and Co-Ordination Centre (UNMACC) with an information pack about DU which UNMACC distributed to each mine clearance organisation. The Government have not felt it necessary to provide further advice to general aid workers on this issue. My Department's view is that mines and unexploded ordnance pose a greater risk to assistance workers; all personnel are given mines awareness training before deployment to Kosovo.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

347 c581W; 117070

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Ammunition Bomb disposal Landmines Radiation exposure Voluntary organisations Yugoslavia Kosovo Depleted uranium

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk