§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the clinical data on the long-term health effects on the victims of the nerve gas attacks on the Tokyo subway and Matsumato in 1994 and 1995; if his Department has reached any conclusions; and if he will make a statement. [63841]
§ Mr. SpellarThis 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. Ken Livingstone, dated 17 December 1998:
I have been asked to reply to your question about the clinical assessment of the long-term health effects on the victims of the nerve gas attacks on the Tokyo subway and Matsumato in 1994 and 1995. Although the Ministry of Defence and the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of DERA at Porton Down are aware of both the incidents and the acute toxic effects of sarin experienced in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, we have not undertaken a clinical assessment of the potential long-term effects of these attacks.However, staff at CBD understand that Japan has instigated a long term follow-up programme to monitor the individuals who were involved in these incidents and it is anticipated that results from this programme will be published in due course.I hope that this is helpful.