The Scottish parliament is to hear claims that secret hi-tech submarine
equipment may be damaging marine life.  Wildlife experts say there is mounting evidence whales are fleeing their breeding and feeding grounds off the north west coast because of Low Frequency Activated Sonar developed by NATO to hunt submarines
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The latest incident came this week when a 15ft-long whale was found dead, floating in the Inner Sound off Skye. Six NATO vessels of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic were in the area at the time - and had been for three days.
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There have also been reports of beaked whales, which inhabit deep parts
of the ocean where sonar signals could rebound off underwater canyons,
stranding off Skye. Beaked whales rarely beach.
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The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre is based at the Kyle of Lochalsh and has an underwater range in the Inner Sound, where the dead whale was seen floating on Tuesday.
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Base commander Quentin Banting said LFAS was not used during trials, but could not rule it out being used 'at other times'.
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A spokesman for the Royal Navy denied LFAS was used by British ships. She maintained: "The Royal Navy is fully committed to protecting the environment and we do not use LFAS." She did not know which NATO navies had LFAS.
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The SNP's (Scottish Nationalist Party) shadow fisheries minister Richard
Lochhead is to ask the Scottish Parliament to press for answers.
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The MSP for North East Scotland said: "NATO and the MoD should be open about the use of sonar and its impact on whales."

Dr Peter Evans, director of the Whale and Dolphin Society, said: "We are prepared to research the whole area of sonar affecting cetaceans -
aquatic mammals - if the Navy are prepared to fund it."
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A meeting between the conservationists and the Navy is planned for
November (2000) to try and resolve the issues raised.

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