§ Mr. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the operating costs and the efficiency savings achieved in Royal Air Force maintenance units since 1970.
§ Mr. LeeThe operating costs for RAF maintenance units for each complete financial year since 1973–74 are set out in the table below. I regret that information for earlier years is not available. Work-measures incentive schemes were introduced into RAF maintenance units between 1972 and 1975 and in the first full year of operation were estimated to have saved £4.5 million at 1974–75 prices. Current year savings are estimated at £18.15 million.
at Porton Down or any other of his Department's establishments to develop defensive measures against the use of biological weapons, including nerve gas.
§ Mr. LeeIn studies of human disease, such as might be caused by biological warfare, it is necessary to use animals to investigate the interaction of microbes and the host and to devise medical measures such as chemotherapy and vaccination. Nerve gases are chemical, not biological agents. Animals are used in work contributing to the protection of British forces against attack with nerve agents. In each case animals would only be used when no alternative methods were available.