HC Deb 12 July 1962 vol 662 cc168-9W
72. Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent Her Majesty's forces are dependent upon the United States of America for supplies of bacteriological weapons; to what extent liaison exists between the United States of America and this country on the research and production of bacteria for warlike purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Watkinson

I said in the House on 23rd November, 1960, that we were not stockpiling biological weapons. This is still true and the first part of the Question therefore does not arise. A limited amount of research concerned with the defensive aspects of biological warfare is carried out in the United Kingdom and in this, as in other fields of defence science, we have a liaison with the United States.