Written question asked by Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party) on Thursday, 16 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 October 2003. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Thursday, 23 October 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunitions were (a) deployed to the Gulf region in 2002, (b) deployed to the Gulf region in 2003, (c) fired during the conflict in Iraq and (d) recovered during UK-led clean-up operations; and if he will make a statement. - Inc ref to 4 june 2003, 406 c445W.

Answer: Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds of depleted uranium ammunitions were (a) deployed to the Gulf region in 2002, (b) deployed to the Gulf region in 2003, (c) fired during the conflict in Iraq and (d) recovered during UK-led clean-up operations; and if he will make a statement. [133712] Mr. Ingram: I am withholding information about numbers of rounds of depleted uranium (DU) munitions deployed on operations in accordance with exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. With regards to DU firings during the recent conflict in Iraq, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence on 4 June 2003. Official Report, column 445W to the hon. Member for Islington North (Mr. Corbyn). Surface-lying DU fragments continue to be removed from the battlefield as they are discovered, however the details of DU findings are not held centrally.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 133712; 411 c656W;411 c661-2W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Ammunition Armed conflict Deployment Iraq Iraq conflict Gulf states Depleted uranium
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk