Chemical Weapons (Hansard, 24 October 1985)

§ 7. Dr. Blackburn
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has made of the downwind lethal range of the effects of detonation of bombs containing nerve agents; and what, in each case, were the sizes of the bombs, the assumptions about wind and weather conditions and the extent of the effects.

§ 10. Mr. Hunter
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that training in protection against chemical weapons is given in special courses at the Civil Defence college, Easingwold.

§ 16. Mr. Speed
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department's scientific research branch is working on protective measures against chemical weapons.

§ Mr. Giles Shaw
Until a comprehensive and verifiable ban on chemical weapons is achieved, the Government judge it prudent to conduct such studies as part of their examination of ways of warning and protecting the population against chemical attack. The work is not yet complete. When it is, my right hon. Friend will consider what information and training it would be appropriate to make available.

§ Dr. Blackburn
In thanking my hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether the United Kingdom, as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. has arm obligation to protect the civilian population from the effects of chemical warfare?

§ Mr. Shaw
My hon. Friend will be aware that NATO has a civil defence committee, which is developing guidelines on a wide range of civil defence measures and long-term measures for the protection of the civilian population against the effects of chemical weapons.

§ Mr. Hunter
Will my hon. Friend acknowledge that courses currently held at the Civil Defence college are inadequate to deal with defence against chemical weapons? Will he acknowledge that there should be specific courses designed for all emergency planning officers?

§ Mr. Shaw
I accept that. At the moment the courses are less full than they should be, but my hon. Friend will recognise that some of the recommendations of the working party will no doubt be directed at the design of proper training.

§ Mr. Speed
Does my hon. Friend intend than the Government will provide protection for the general public along the lines already adopted by Switzerland, Sweden and Norway, for example, against the effects of chemical weapons?

§ Mr. Shaw
I am aware that several countries, including the Scandinavian countries, have a mask system to deal with these matters, and no doubt that will be one of the things considered by the working party.

§ Mr. Boyes
Is it not irresponsible of the Minister to pretend that people can be protected against chemical weapon attack? Would not he and his colleagues be better employed trying to convince President Reagan to forget about his plans to escalate the number of chemical weapons? The Government should come clean with the public and spend time getting an agreement with the Soviet Union to get rid of all chemical weapon stocks.

§ Mr. Shaw
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Soviet Union has 300,000 tonnes of chemical weapons in stock. He might also take comfort from the fact that next year the United Kingdom will chair the chemical weapons working party at the Geneva talks. I trust that at that time progress will be made.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
Will the Minister tell the House what animals are used in chemical weapons experiments?

§ Mr. Shaw
No, Sir, because we are presently considering the abolition of chemical weapons.

§ Mr. Neil Thorne
My hon. Friend has already referred to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Defence on Tuesday, when he expressed concern about the 300,000 tonnes of chemical weapons held by the Soviet bloc. If he shares my concern about this, not only 417 for the Service men but for their families, will he try to persuade the Home Secretary to join the Secretary of State for Defence in ensuring that adequate resources are made available for dealing with this hazard?

§ Mr. Shaw
My hon. Friend can rest assured that my right hon. Friend will certainly lose no time in dealing with this issue when it is properly analysed and recommendations are placed before him. I can assure my hon. Friend that civil defence training and preparation is one of the topics with which we deem it prudent to deal.