HC Deb 19 July 1993 vol 229 cc86-7W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths or accidents requirng treatment in hospital have occurred in his Department's chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down in each of the last 30 years.

Mr. Hanley

This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework documents and I have asked the chief executive to reply.

Letter from Graham S. Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 19 July 1993.

  1. 1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many deaths or accidents requiring treatment in hospital have occurred at his Department's chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down in each of the last 30 years (Question 35, Order Paper 8 July 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. 2. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down has its own small hospital to support the volunteer programme, which is the focus for occupational health in the Establishment. Consequently any members of staff requiring first aid treatment attend the Establishment hospital.
  3. 3. The records of the Safety Section of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, and before that the Chemical Defence Establishment (1972–1991) and before that the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment (1953–1972) go back to 1965. Prior to 1988, the Safety Section only has records of more serious accidents for which local enquiries were held.
  4. 4. There have been no deaths or permanent disability cases in the past 30 years. The number of accidents involving treatment at the Establishment hospital for each year since 1965 and recorded in the Safety Section records are tabulated below:
Year Number
1965 1
1966 nil
1967 1
1968 nil
1969 nil
1970 nil
1971 nil
1972 1
1973 nil
1974 1
1975 1
1976 1
1977 4
1978 nil
1979 1
1980 1
1981 nil
1982 1
1983 1
1984 2
1985 1
1986 1
1987 3
1988 1
1989 5
1990 4
1991 8
1992 2
1993 4
The apparent increase from 1988 is due to improved reporting procedures for accidents. Most of the accidents since 1988 have been fairly minor injuries, not associated with chemical or biological warfare agents, requiring first aid treatment.

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