§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate the Government have made of the useable lifetime of(a) anthrax (wet form), (b) smallpox, (c) VX and (d) mustard gas; and if he will make a statement. [103578]
§ Dr. MoonieThe stability of these materials depends very much on the initial purity and the precise storage conditions. Their usable lifetime as chemical or biological warfare agents, can range from a few months to several tens of years. It should be noted that even partially degraded material may still pose a significant hazard.