§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests of live pathogens have taken place outside of the perimeter of Porton Down since 1964; which pathogens were used in each case; how many (i) animals and (ii) humans were exposed to pathogens in each case; and what studies of the persistence of the pathogens used were carried out(a) before and (b) after the tests.
§ Mr. HanleyThese are matters for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down—CBDE. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 18 February 1994:
1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what tests of live pathogens have taken place outside the perimeter of Porton Down since 1964 has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. Our records indicate that no open air trials or tests involving the use of live pathogens have taken place outside the perimeter of Porton Down since 1964. However, work has been carried out using pathogens in microbiology laboratories, under carefully contained conditions, in compliance with the Health and Safety Executive's requirements at various universities and other institutions throughout the United Kingdom during the course of research funded by the Ministry of Defence.3. No humans have been involved. Our records do not provide the information sought on the numbers of animals involved in this work carried out over the past 30 years. The pathogens used are handled safely in accordance with national standards and the question of persistence does not apply as facilities are decontaminated thoroughly at the end of the work.