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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, columns 519-20W, on depleted uranium, which units and sub units that served in the Balkans were not subject to pre-deployment course briefing on medical issues, including depleted uranium, (a) from June 1999 to August 2000 and (b) since August 2000; how many troops were involved; who decided to curtail the pre-deployment course briefing on medical issues; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the situation is not repeated. [150972] Mr. Spellar: All units and sub-units deploying to the Balkans between 1 June 1999 and 12 September 2000 attended a course run by the Operational Training and Advisory Group (Warminster) (OPTAG(W)), previously called the United Nations Training and Advisory Team (UNTAT), prior to deployment. This included a general briefing on environmental industrial hazards, including radiological hazards, delivered by the Mobile Health Instructional Team (MHIT). In view of the large number of operational deployments last autumn, the course for troops deploying to the Balkans was reduced in length to ensure that all troops received the best preparation for their deployment in the time available. OPTAG(W) considered the priority for topics to be included in the course and the medical briefing was dropped. This decision was taken by OPTAG(W) in the light of circumstances at the time and, in view of the fact that all troops receive an annual medical training package under unit arrangements. The following units, or elements of the units, did not receive the MHIT briefing between 12 September and 13 December 2000 prior to deployment to the Balkans: Unit 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment One squadron from the Queen's Dragoon Guards 33 Engineer Regiment 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers 4 Regiment Army Air Corps 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 661 Squadron Army Air Corps 16 Signal Regiment 24 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 33 Field Hospital 847 Naval Air Squadron 23 Pioneer Regiment 50 Independent Commando Squadron RE 4 General Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 8 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps Note: Troops to be deployed as individual reinforcements are trained alongside units and sub-units. Therefore, some 3,100 troops in these units and sub-units and some 400 troops who were deployed as individuals, did not receive the pre-deployment MHIT briefing. Instructions to reinstate the briefing were issued formally on 12 January, but action had already been taken to revise the course programme for the first OPTAG(W) course after the Christmas and New Year break. This took place between 8-10 January; all troops participating in this course were given the MHIT brief. As stated in my answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, columns 519-20W, all troops deploying to Kosovo should have received briefing at unit level on depleted uranium in accordance with the instructions in the Mounting Order, although we now know that this process was not comprehensive.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

363 c555-7W; 150972

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Ammunition Deployment Health hazards Training Balkans Depleted uranium

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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