QINETIQ'S ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES

Early day motion 1664, tabled 18 July 2002 by Llew Smith (Labour). Signed by 23 members.

That this House believes any agency privatised by the Ministry of Defence should be required to take responsibility for the full environmental liabilities owned by the agency; notes the Ministry of Defence's proposal to provide for a 20 year indemnity for any environmental losses incurred by Qinetiq, formerly the Department's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, in its departmental minute dated 8th July; believes it is wrong to encumber tax payers with an unquantified liability that ought properly be owned by Qinetiq; calls on the Secretary of State for Defence to withdraw the minute; and believes that he should make available to Parliament a detailed appraisal of the extent of the environmental liabilities involved before any further approval is given.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.