§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence whether the 1968 studies into the possible toxic effects of the CS gaseous agent, initiated under the auspices of his Department, have now been concluded; 203W and when the results will be made available to the public.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe report on the 1968 studies, which was extended to include additional material, will be published in due course.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence whether the content of hitherto unpublished studies into the possible toxic value of the CS gaseous agent carried out under the auspices of his Department have been made fully available to Sir Harold Himsworth and his colleagues investigating the effect on civilian populations in built-up areas.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourYes.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how many people have been involved under the auspices of the Government in investigating the possible toxic qualities of the CS gaseous agent between 1st January, 1968, and the present time; and how such people are selected and at what cost.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe only investigation under Government auspices, apart from work done at the Chemical Defence Establishment, is that being carried out by the Himsworth Committee. The members of this committee were selected and appointed by the predecessor of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs. My right hon. Friend is responsible for the cost.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence whether since the initiation of its investigation into the real qualities of the CS gaseous agent, his Department has continued to manufacture, license the manufacture, supply and direct the supply of the substance for possible use.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourYes, except that no CS is manufactured under licence.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how much of the CS gaseous agent has been produced at the Chemical Defence Establishment during each month since 1st January, 1968.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourAn average of less than one ton annually since 1st January, 1968. Monthly totals are not readily available.
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§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how much of the CS gaseous agent has been produced under licence from his Department within the United Kingdom during each month since 1st January, 1968.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourNone.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how much of the CS gaseous agent manufactured since the beginning of 1968 has been destroyed during each month since the beginning of 1968.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourIt is not the practice to disclose information of this nature.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions members of the British armed forces have discharged CS grenades or canisters in Northern Ireland since 1st August, 1969.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourCS has been used during 43 sets of disturbances in Northern Ireland betwen 1st August, 1969 and 31st October, 1970.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence on whose authority the armed forces initiate a CS gas offensive; and of what minimum ranking is the officer who instructs the use.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe use of the word "offensive" is misleading.
CS is used on the authority of the Director of Operations, Northern Ireland. The decision to use CS rests with the military commander on the spot who will normally be a company commander of the rank of Major or Captain.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Minister of State for Defence how many CS cartridges and how many CS grenades have been issued by his Department to the Royal Ulster Constabulary during each month from 1st January, 1968.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourIt is not the practice to disclose information of this nature.