HC Deb 16 July 1998 vol 316 cc248-9W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in inspecting Iraqi missile warheads alleged to contain traces of VX. [50721]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

On 24 June, UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler informed the UN Security Council that results of tests on missile warhead fragments removed from Iraq earlier this year had uncovered evidence that Iraq put VX and VX stabiliser into the warheads. These tests were carried out at a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) accredited laboratory in the US.

UNSCOM is now arranging for further tests to be made on fresh samples at other accredited laboratories in France and Switzerland.