Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Tablets (Hansard, 14 December 1994)

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he has received regarding the standard prescribed dosage for nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets.

§ Mr. Soames
The nerve agent pre-treatment set standard dose of one 30 mg tablet taken eight-hourly was based on scientific and medical advice following studies to establish the efficacy and safety of the constituent drug Pyridostigmine bromide as a nerve agent pre-treatment. Those studies showed effective protection at this dosage with only occasional minor side effects, which cease when the tablets are stopped.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if civilians serving with the Merchant Navy and based in Plymouth were prescribed a course of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets prior to and during Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Soames
All personnel deployed to the Gulf theatre of operations, including those MOD civilians working in support of the Navy, were issued with NAPS tablets for their personal administration against the risk of chemical nerve agent attack. All personnel were briefed not to exceed the stated dose and were advised when to commence taking NAPS tablets.

§ Dr. David Clark
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the standard prescribed dosage of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets was exceeded(a) during biological and chemical defence training in preparation for Operation Granby and (b) during Operation Granby.

§ Mr. Soames
During biological and chemical warfare training, personnel are instructed on the purpose and proper administration of nerve agent pre-treatment set tablets and are advised that the stated dose should not be exceeded. The standard dosage of one 30mg NAPS tablet to be taken every eight hours is shown clearly on the packet, which also advises that the standard dose should not be exceeded.
The actual taking of NAPS tablets does not form part of chemical and biological training, and we have no evidence to suggest that personnel exceeded the stated dosage during Operation Granby.