HC Deb 12 November 1970 vol 806 cc243-4W
Miss Devlin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what commissions or other bodies have been established by his Department to investigate the effect of the CS gaseous agent when used against civilian groupings within the United Kingdom, and in what circumstances; what are the names of members of these bodies, and on what dates were they appointed; and which of the members have worked at the Chemical Defence Establishment or at the Microbiological Defence Establishment at Porton.

Mr. Sharples

The circumstances in which the Himsworth Committee was set up are described in Part I of its Report "Inquiry into the Medical and Toxicological aspects of CS" (Cmnd. 4173). The members areAppointed 30th August, 1969:

  1. Sir Harold Himsworth, Chairman.
  2. Professor A. C. Dornhorst.
  3. Professor R. H. S. Thompson.
Appointed 15th September, 1969:
  1. Professor A. Neuberger.
  2. Professor W. D. M. Paton.
  3. Professor D. A. K. Black.
  4. Professor T. Crawford.
  5. Dr. J. C. Gilson.

None of the members has worked at the Chemical Defence Establishment or at the Microbiological Research Establishment at Porton.

Miss Devlin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the members appointed to bodies established by his Department to investigate the effect of the CS gaseous agent on civilian groupings have at any time been members of the advisory boards of scientists maintained by the Chemical Defence Establishments and the Microbiological Defence Establishment.

Mr. Sharples

Part I of the Report of the Himsworth Committee (which is the only body to which this question is relevant) stated that one of its members, Professor Thompson, was Chairman of the Chemical Defence Advisory Board. He is now also a member of the Biological Defence Advisory Board. None of the other seven members of the present Committee is or has been a member of these advisory boards.

Miss Devlin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the committee appointed to investigate the use of the CS gaseous agent in the City of Londonderry during 1969 has yet made its final report, or when it is expected, and what procedures are being taken to ensure the gaseous agent is not used until the conclusions of the Himsworth Committee have been made known.

Mr. Sharples

I understand that my right hon. Friend can expect to receive Part II of the Himsworth Committee's report in the spring of 1971. The use of CS has not been prohibited in the meantime.