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Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Thursday, 23 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 March 2023. It was answered by James Heappey (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 March 2023 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ukraine: Ammunition

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question HL6144 on Ukraine: Ammunition and to UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/49 adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2022, when he last made an assessment of the potential hazards to human beings and the environment from the contamination of territories with depleted uranium residues; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has assessed the potential hazards to human beings and the environment following the use of depleted uranium munitions on the battlefield through the monitoring of UK military veterans and environmental surveys. The results of these indicate that the hazards to people and the environment are low, which is consistent with the findings of independent studies by the Royal Society, United Nations Environment Programme, and the European Commission.

The monitoring of UK veterans was based on the advice of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB), which concluded its work in 2007. The DUOB's final report can be found here:

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/+/http:/www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/Uranium/FinalReportOfTheDepletedUraniumOversightBoard.htm.

MOD remains open to significant new findings in this area.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
172375
Session
2022-23
Related items
Ukraine: Ammunition
Monday, 20 March 2023
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Ammunition Arms trade Contamination Health hazards Ukraine Depleted uranium
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk