Chemical Weapons (Hansard, 25 June 1997)

§ Mr. Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities and types of chemical weapon agents imported from the United States are held in store by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; and if he will make a statement on the current safety status of the containers holding these agents. [4303]

§ Mr. Spellar
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
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Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 25 June 1997: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the quantities and types of chemical weapon agents imported from the United States held in store by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. Two chemicals are recorded as having being imported from the United States and are currently held in store at CBD. They are Methyl phosphonyl (or phosphonic) dichloride and Methyl phosphonous (or phosphinyl) dichloride. The current holding is 215kg and 1.018 tonnes respectively. These chemicals were included in the UK's declaration under the Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition to these transfers there have been a number of others over the years with the US, which fall below the chemical weapons convention threshold and for which it would involve disproportionate costs to identify. The declared materials were imported in March 1955 and June 1964 and were transferred to CBD Porton from CBDE Nancekuke, Cornwall when it closed in 1980. They are awaiting disposal and are stored in airtight chemical drums in a controlled storage area. The condition of the containers is checked regularly. We anticipate disposal soon. I hope this is helpful.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what landfill locations are used for the disposal of heavy metals extracted from chemical weapons munitions being incinerated at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. [4299]

§ Mr. Spellar
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 25 June 1997. I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about landfill locations used for the disposal of heavy metals extracted from chemical weapons munitions as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The chemical weapons munitions being disposed of at Porton Down do not contain heavy metals so the question of landfill sites does not arise. I hope this is helpful.

§ Mr. Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what environmental and safety information has been provided to his Department by those contracted to destroy outstanding British chemical weapon grenades, 9140-M6-CN-DM, held at RAF base Bad Wulfen. [4302]

§ Mr. Spellar
The destruction of outstanding British chemical weapon grenades at BAD Wulfen, is being conducted in accordance with German environmental legislation. Frequent meetings between my Officials, the German Authorities, selected German Army specialists, and the Contractor, have ensured this to be the case. A safety plan was also agreed following detailed discussions between local German government officials, the Contractor, and ammunition specialists from both the British and German Army. The stringent safety regulations already in force within the Ammunition Depot assisted this process. Whilst no specific information has been received by my Department from the Contractor on matters of environment and safety, the Contractor has, as a matter of course, contributed to the procedures which have been put in place.