Ministry of Defence deny problems

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Trials have been conducted by Royal Ordnance on potential suppliers of propellant as part of their assessment programme to ensure that their products do meet all the stringent performance and safety requirements of the MoD's Ordnance Board.

"There is no question of the MoD allowing, or Royal Ordnance supplying, unsafe propellants to be used in service."

He added: "We can categorically say we have no problems with any in-service propellant charge supplied by the Royal Ordnance."

'Dangerous illusion'

The only factory producing shell propellant in the UK, the Royal Ordnance's Bishopton plant in Renfrewshire, is due to close by May 2002 following the government's announcement that safe and alternative sources of supply were available overseas at a cheaper cost.

Mr Dromey said: "We warned them that they were suffering from a dangerous illusion. This damaging evidence must now cause a rethink."

The TGWU is due to meet Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon with other defence unions on 26 July to urge him to insist on British-produced propellant.

They are seeking fresh talks with BAe Systems on a package to retain the manufacturing of propellant at Bishopton.

Tory shadow defence secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused the government of seeking to hide the true extent of the problem, saying: "This is not about information. This is about the lives of our servicemen and women who may be asked to go into battle with defective equipment."

A BAe Systems spokesman said the Nitrochemie propellant was only one of several alternatives being trialled for possible use in the Charm III project.

He said the decision to close Bishopton was taken because there were insufficient orders coming from the MoD to justify its continued operation.