HC Deb 16 March 1995 vol 256 cc717-8W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service volunteers have been involved in studies with the S6 respirator at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down since 1965; in which years these studies took place; what was the nature and purpose of these studies; and under which defence agreement the results of these studies were exchanged with other countries.

Mr. Soames

This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 16 March 1995:

  1. 1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many Service volunteers have been involved in studies with the S6 respirator at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down since 1965; in which years these studies took place; what was the nature and purpose of these studies; and under which Defence Agreement the results of these studies were exchanged with other countries, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. 2. The role of the chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:
    1. a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,
    2. b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and,
    3. c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.
    • No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
  3. 3. Our records are not maintained in such a way as to identify the number of Service personnel who have participated in studies with the S6 respirator at CBDE. Studies have been carried out at CBDE on the protection afforded by the S6 respirator when worn by human beings. In addition, during the research and development phases of the S6 programme, user trials were conducted to determine the military acceptability of various aspects of the design. There trials took the form of issuing prototype respirators to units for use during routine exercises.
  4. 4. The results of this work were part of the chemical and biological defence programme and have formed part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with our Allies under the agreements covering research, development, deployment and standardisation of chemical and biological defence equipment such as those listed by the Right Hon. Archie Hamilton in his reply of 21 May 1992, Official Report, columns 255–56.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 889, when the SIO respirator was issued for use by the armed forces; when the NATO triptych was laid down; and what are its provisions.

Mr. Soames

This matter is for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 16 March 1995:

  1. 1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 3 February, Official Report, column 889, when the S10 respirator was issued for use by the Armed Forces; when the Nato triptych was laid down; and what are its provisions, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
  3. 3. The S10 respirator began entering service with UK Armed Forces in 1986–87, and is now the standard issue respirator for all Service personnel.
  4. 4. The current version of the NATO NBC Respirator Triptych was issued in May 1991 and replaced the original version issued in 1967. The Triptych comprise three sections headed: Operational Requirements, Technical Specifications, and Evaluation Tests and Criteria. These are further sub-divided into sections on protection characteristics, use characteristics, survivability, and storage and service life. These lay down the minimum requirements for various parameters such as comfort, compatibility with other equipment, field of vision, protection properties, flash resistance, care and maintenance, canister thread dimensions, and communication. A series of Annexes describe some of the test methods used in determining compliance with the requirements.

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