HC Deb 16 July 1992 vol 211 cc935-8W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) under what defence agreement information from the defence microbiology division at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, is passed to the United States Department of Defence;

(2) how many personnel from the United States Department of Defence are stationed either permanently or temporarily at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down; and for what purpose;

(3) what quantity of VX nerve gas is currently stocked by his Department;

(4) in what years CS gas was produced at his Department's establishment at Nancekuke, Cornwall; and in what quantities it was manufactured each year;

(5) pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 359, what other uses have been made of shellfish toxins by his Department; and whether his Department has collaborated with the United States Department of Defence in the studies and tests involving shellfish toxins;

(6) how many times personnel from the United States Department of Defence have visited the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, in each year since 1979; and what was the purpose of these visits;

(7) in which years his Department's scientists carried out studies and tests on quantities of VX nerve gas prepared by the United States of America; what was the purpose of these tests and studies; and how many British service personnel have been subjected to tests involving VX nerve gas;

(8) what use the chemical and biological defence establishment Porton Down, has made of the protein saxitoxin;

(9) how many tests have been carried out since 1967 involving the incapacitating agent BZ and British service personnel; when these tests were carried out; whether all the personnel were volunteers; and whether BZ is currently stocked by any of his Department's establishments;

(10) what information about its research into CR gas the United Kingdom has passed onto the United States of America; under which defence agreement this information was exchanged; and when the information was transferred.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

These matters are for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and studies his Department has conducted on the chemical agents picloram and cacodylic acid; when these tests and studies were carried out; whether they were carried out on humans; and whether the results of these tests and studies have been passed on to the United States Department of Defence.

Mr. Aitken

The substances picloram and cacodylic acid are herbicides. No work has been carried out on these materials by my Department.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Ministry of Defence scientists first conducted research into CR gas; and in which Ministry of Defence establishment these scientists were working.

Mr. Aitken

This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the use of CR gas(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The MOD's policy for the use of CR gas is in accordance with the draft text of the chemical weapons convention currently being negotiated in Geneva.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Britain and the United States exchanged technical and scientific information on(a) binary nerve gas technology and (b) VX nerve gas; and under which defence agreements these exchanges took place.

Mr. Aitken

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 May 1992,Official Report, column 255–56, concerning international agreements on chemical and biological defence.

Under the agreements relating to research information has been exchanged on a continuing basis on the potential hazard from chemical and biological agents including VX nerve gas and possible binary gases with the aim of ensuring that the protective measures for the United Kingdom armed forces are as effective as possible.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 411, at which establishment in Australia the environmental testing of the S10 respirator took place in the 1980s; and whether any other British equipment related to chemical and biological warfare has been tested in Australia or New Zealand since 1962.

Mr. Aitken

Environmental testing of the S10 respirator was carried out by the Australian materials research laboratory.

I understand that the Australian Government carried out tests of United Kingdom agent monitoring equipment in the mid-1980s in support of Australian defence requirements.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down have been funded by the United States Department of Defence since 1979; and what is the total worth of these projects.

Mr. Aitken

This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much CR gas is stocked by his Department; and how much stock has been purchased from external sources or produced internally by his Department.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It would not be in the national interest to disclose the size of our stockpile or its source.

Dr. Liam Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key performance targets have been set for 1992–93 for the chief executive of the chemical and biological defence establishment.

Mr. Aitken

The chief executive of the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down is responsible for research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. He has been set the following challenging key performance targets for 1992–93:

Improved Delivery of the Programme

1. In 1992–93 to achieve, within agreed timescales, 85 per cent. of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment programme milestones required by the service chiefs of staff and other customers.

2. In 1992–93 to achieve 80 per cent. of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment programme milestones required by service chiefs of staff and other customers to agreed cost and to seek progressive improvements in performance in future years.

3. To sustain the CB research programme and the capability of CBDE to respond effectively to operational emergencies by maintaining scientific and technical staff to at least 66 per cent. of the total planned manpower.

More Efficient Use of Resources

4. To increase the overall efficiency of CBDE by more than 2.5 per cent. over the financial year 1992–93 with emphasis on improving output efficiency.

5. To establish a database by 31 March 1993 to enable the percentage of indirect to direct costs to be determined more accurately with a view to improving value for money for MoD by reducing the percentage of indirect costs in subsequent years.

6. To complete the programme of efficiency reviews of the remainder of the support services by 31 March 1993 and initiate market testing, where appropriate, and to implement the recommendations which would lead to greater efficiency.

Development of Management Systems

To extend the improved resource allocation and cost attribution system by inclusion of major and minor works and maintenance costs by March 1993.

Quality and the Customer

8. To improve the means of assessing the quality of the scientific and technical outputs by March 1993 and to apply this to the outputs for MoD and other key customers by March 1994.