§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now set up an independent medical assessment to examine the long-term health effects upon individual service men who participated in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. [21611]
§ Mr. SoamesThere is no evidence to suggest that any of the service volunteers—approximately 6,900 in number—who have participated in studies at Porton Down over the past 40 years have suffered any harm to their health. I do not, therefore, consider it necessary to set up an independent medical assessment to examine any of the individuals concerned.