Written question asked by Mike Penning (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 October 2005. It was answered by Lord Touhig (Labour) on Monday, 10 October 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Aarhus Convention

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on UK participation in the Aarhus Convention as it applies to freedom of information obligations in environmental affairs of a defence nature, with particular reference to (a) depleted uranium and (b) nuclear material.

Answer: Under the auspices of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the provisions of the Aarhus Convention relating to public access to environmental information have been implemented by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Ministry of Defence is subject to both the Environmental Information Regulations and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Any requests to the Department for information about depleted uranium or nuclear material are answered in accordance with the terms of the relevant legislation.

Secondary information