Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions the Government has had with industry experts on identifying and dealing with unexploded ordnance.

In respect of UK land Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a very close relationship with industry when discussing Countering Explosive Ordnance. Within the last 18 months, the MOD has worked closely with industry to help create 'Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) UK', a body that represents the whole of UK C-IED industry. The MOD sits on the Executive Committee of that body and ensures that industry understands UK MOD requirements in significant detail.

At present the MOD does not have a requirement to outsource UK maritime EOD tasks to commercial companies, therefore no approach has been made to industry.