§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to inoculate servicemen against anthrax.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)The measures being taken at any particular time to protect our forces against biological warfare (BW) agents are based upon the prevailing operational circumstances and the latest threat assessments. For example, in 1990–91 UK troops participating in the Gulf conflict were immunised against anthrax and plague as part of the measures taken in response to Iraq's assessed BW capability. The Government have no current plans to immunise all UK service personnel against anthrax as standard practice.