§ Lord Craig of Radleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What policy they have adopted to protect members of the Armed Forces who might become involved in any new conflict with Iraq from the dangers of exposure to biological or chemical agents. [HL576]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)The measures being taken at any given time to protect UK forces against chemical and biological weapons are based upon the prevailing operational circumstances and the latest threat assessment. In the light of Iraq's failure to account properly for its acknowledged programmes to acquire weapons of mass destruction, a range of equipment—chemical and biological agent detectors, warning and reporting systems, individual and collective protection, decontamination equipment, and medical countermeasures—has already been sent to the Gulf theatre for use by UK forces if necessary.
In order that MoD has access to the best possible medical and scientific advice, we have established an independent Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures, chaired by Professor Peter Blain of Newcastle University and made up of leading outside medical experts. Having sought and received advice from the new group on the current situation, we have decided that UK service personnel and MoD civilians in the Gulf region should be strongly recommended to accept immunisation against anthrax. The vaccination programme will commence later this week and involve personnel receiving three injections over the next six weeks and a fourth injection after a further six months, using the UK manufactured and licensed anthrax vaccine. No other vaccine will be co-administered with the anthrax vaccine and special arrangements have been made to ensure that the medical records of all those involved are properly annotated to register whether they receive the vaccine.
The US and Canadian Governments are providing vaccination for their forces in the region in the same timescale, and are making similar announcements.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence has written to those Service personnel and civilians who are being advised to accept anthrax immunisation explaining the background to this decision. A copy of the text of his letter and the accompanying information leaflet are being placed in the Library of the House.