Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his timeframe is for the completion of the fourth phase of his Department's investigation of deflagration as a method of unexploded ordnance clearance; what assessment he has made of the potential harm caused by explosions of unexploded ordnance to the marine environment; and if he will make a statement.

The Government recognise the potential for significant impact of underwater noise from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance on vulnerable marine species and is taking active steps to manage and reduce the risk. Two phases of a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funded project to characterise and contrast the acoustic fields generated by UXO clearance using high order detonation and using low-order deflagration have been completed and reported on. A third phase is now almost complete, further improving the information base and assessment of the clearance options.

Further research is now required to determine if the low-order deflagration and similar techniques are transferable to the offshore marine setting where partially-buried and decades-old explosives and variable environmental conditions can pose greater challenges for successful low-order clearance operations. The fourth phase of BEIS funded research is currently planned around several proposed UXO clearance campaigns. The trials at sea aim to characterise the resulting noise and chemical contaminant releases in the marine environment and to determine whether the technologies are safe and effective. This work is scheduled to take place over the summer and autumn of 2021 and is expected to report in Q1/2 2022.