§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what details of Britain's past chemical warfare activities have to be disclosed to the relevant authority if Britain is to ratify the chemical weapons convention; to whom and when this information has to be disclosed; how many of his Department's staff are helping to prepare the document disclosing such past activities; where these staff are based; what records are being used to prepare such a document; and if he will make a statement. [31969]
§ Mr. FreemanThe United Kingdom will be required to make declarations of its past chemical weapons activities to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in accordance with article III of the chemical weapons convention not later than 30 days after it enters into force for the UK. MOD and other Whitehall officials, supported by CBDE staff, are currently formulating the draft declaration. Information has been collected from historical official documents, periodicals and visits to the sites concerned.