§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the quantities of(a) precursors for chemical weapons and (b) chemical weapon agents held at Porton Down research establishment, used for prophylactic research; on what dates the United Kingdom disposed of its chemical weapons; and what amount was disposed of on each occasion, in the last 10 years. [130852]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) permits the retention of toxic chemicals and their precursors, where they are intended for purposes not prohibited under the Convention. Such permitted purposes include research, medical, pharmaceutical and protective purposes. Toxic chemicals and precursors are classified according to three Schedules, primarily on the basis of their usability as chemical weapons, the risk they pose to the Convention, and their commercial utility.
The UK, as a State Party to the CWC, is permitted to hold up to an aggregate of 1 tonne of Schedule 1 chemicals. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Porton Down is licensed by the CWC National Authority to hold Schedule 1 chemicals for permitted purposes and is required to make an annual declaration of holdings and usage.
The declaration is not made public for reasons of national security and so I am withholding information about specific quantities under Exemption 1 of the Code Of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, total holdings are substantially less than the permitted maximum of 1 tonne.
In addition to Schedule 1 chemicals, Porton Down holds smaller quantities of Schedule 2 and 3 chemicals.
The UK abandoned its offensive chemical weapons capability in the 1950s. The bulk of residual stocks of munitions and agents were disposed of at that time. Approximately 4,500kg of bulk chemical agent dating from before 1946 was destroyed between 1993 and entry into force of the CWC in 1997. In addition, from time to time, munitions suspected of containing chemical agent dating from before 1946 are found in the UK, for example, during land remediation, and brought to Porton Down. Disposal takes place throughout the year as operational constraints permit. Over the last 10 years, 3,418 items of this type have been disposed of.