§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 17 March (WA 98) that "the United Kingdom is unaware of any stocks of the [smallpox] virus located in other countries", whether they will discuss with the Israeli Government reports that it is maintaining stocks of the virus. [HL1681]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanI would refer the noble Lord to my earlier Answer of 17 March (WA 98). Since the adoption of Resolution 49.10 by the World Health Assembly in 1996, confirming that the stock of smallpox (variola) virus had been reduced and restricted to two centres worldwide, one in Russia and the other in the United States, the United Kingdom has not had cause to raise this issue with any government. The United Kingdom is not aware of any evidence that would substantiate the allegations made in the article published in "The Times" of 29 January 1999 and to which the noble Lord's question would appear to refer.
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