Salmond demands answers on depleted uranium

Salmond wants nuclear answers

Wednesday, 27, Apr 2005 12:00

SNP leader Alex Salmond has demanded a review of test firing practises for depleted uranium shells after it was revealed a local fisherman had discovered a partial shell in the Solway Firth.

Speaking at a press conference in Dumfries, Mr Salmond unveiled a letter from Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram supposedly admitting that four 'essentially complete' depleted uranium shells had been found at Kirkcudbright firing range.

Mr Salmond said a complete rethink on the procedures for depleted uranium test firing were needed, saying it would be a big issue in the SNP's campaign.

"Of course, essentially complete is a nice way of saying incomplete, and that means fragments from these shells - and the thousands of others fired into the sea - could remain in local waters and in the local environment.

"I want to know what action the Ministry of Defence has taken to trace particles and what action they plan to make sure no more military uranium finds its way onto this beautiful stretch of Scottish coast."

Pointing out there was international concern about the long term affects of depleted uranium fragments in the food chain, Mr Salmond said: "This raises huge questions for both the Labour and Tory campaigns. It has been two years since Peter Duncan has raised the issue of depleted uranium testing at Dundrennan in the Commons - local voters would be entitled to ask what on earth has he been doing over the last two years?

"If this was happening in the Moray Firth in my area I'd make sure it was national news until something was done about it. If Douglas Henderson had been MP for this area then it would have been the subject of special parliamentary debates, indeed as it was when Alasdair Morgan was MP. In contrast rip van Duncan has been asleep at his post."

The SNP is campaigning strongly against the basing of nuclear missiles and power stations in Scotland.

Separately, the Scottish Greens called on the Government to scrap all nuclear weapons in Scotland and use the money to tackle poverty.

With a decision on the replacing Trident - which is based in Scotland - expected next year, the Greens are campaigning against any new system.

Green MSP Chris Balance, said: "Most people want to see nuclear weapons removed from Scottish soil and the billions saved spent on reducing poverty, investing in health and education, and on overseas aid. The Iraq war is rightly an issue in this election - but so should we be looking at the future of WMD in Scotland. Peace is a key theme of the Greens election. The message is simple - if you want to vote for peace, vote Green."