Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 February 2001. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Thursday, 15 February 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Portsmouth South, of 5th February, Official Report, 362 c358W, what steps have been taken to recover the depleted uranium munitions test-fired into the Adriatic Sea.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), of 5 February 2001, Official Report, column 358W, what steps have been taken to recover the depleted uranium munitions test-fired into the Adriatic Sea. [149649] Mr. Spellar: The Royal Navy uses depleted uranium (DU) in its Phalanx close-in weapon systems fitted to some ships for anti-missile and aircraft defence. Each round contains only a small quantity of DU. We know from our monitoring of substantial quantities of DU fired into the Solway Firth over many years that this has no detectable impact on uranium levels in sediment or marine life. There are significant amounts of natural uranium in seawater, and the firing of a few Phalanx rounds containing small quantities of DU will have minimal impact on the marine environment of the Adriatic.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 149649; 363 c195W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Ammunition Health hazards Radioactive materials Waste management Seas and oceans Depleted uranium Adriatic Sea
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk