§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of testimony given to a United States Senate House Sub-Committee by Major Michael Johnson and Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant George Grass on 10th December 1996 about the chemical in a tank found in the grounds of a Kuwaiti Girls' High School, they will reconsider their written replies to the Countess of Mar of 1st November 1994 (H.L. Deb., WA 57) and 4th June 1996 (H.L. Deb., WA 120).
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)No. As I explained in my answer of 4th June, the incident at the Sabahiyah High School for Girls has been extensively investigated.
Samples taken from the tank were analysed by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment and the results found were consistent with the contents being nitric acid. There was no evidence of chemical warfare agents present in the sample.