Ministerial Correction

Tuesday 19th July 2011 Ministerial Corrections

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Air Force

Tuesday 19th July 2011 Ministerial Corrections

[Sir Alan Beith]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk management strategy prepared by the Environmental Science Group in relation to the proposal to close the RAF ordnance clearance operations at Goswick Sands near Berwick-upon-Tweed; and what revisions to the report took place after the first version was considered by the Royal Air Force.

[Official Report, 26 April 2011, Vol. 527, c. 61-62W.]

Letter of correction from Nick Harvey:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) on 26 April 2011.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Nick Harvey]

A copy of the risk management strategy for the former air weapons range at Goswick Sands will be placed in the Library of the House.

The risk management strategy was written at the request of the RAF by the Ministry of Defence's Environmental Science Group (ESG). RAF subject matter experts and other stakeholders were consulted and a number of corrections were incorporated into the final document within Table 8.3. These downgraded the risk level of an accidental explosion resulting from contact with horses on the beach or deliberate tampering.

The correct answer should have been:

[Nick Harvey]

A copy of the risk management strategy for the former air weapons range at Goswick Sands will be placed in the Library of the House.

The risk management strategy was written at the request of the RAF by the Ministry of Defence's Environmental Science Group (ESG). RAF subject matter experts and other stakeholders were consulted and a number of corrections were incorporated into the final document within Table 8.3. These downgraded the risk level of an accidental explosion resulting from contact with horses on the beach or deliberate tampering. The risk level was also reduced for other users including walkers and other recreational users, people digging with bucket and spade, bait diggers, fishermen, recreational off roaders, farmers and persons lighting fires and barbeques.