Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any stocks of chemical or biological warfare agents are kept at Porton Down or other Ministry of Defence research establishments for the purpose of experimental research on protective measures for civilians and military personnel against chemical warfare attack.
§ Mr. SainsburyI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 25 January at column653.
Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any tests have been undertaken at Porton Down on any soil samples from the Kurdish areas of Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe CDE Porton Down has carried out a scientific analysis of soil samples provided by Mr. Gwynne Roberts, a Channel 4 reporter. The analysis, which was given to Mr. Roberts on 11 January, shows that the samples contained traces of sulphur mustard and related compounds together with traces of the explosive Tetryl. We cannot confirm the circumstances in which these samples were collected, but have no reason to doubt Mr. Roberts' account that these were collected in northern Iraq. The Government believe that this, following previous indications, amounts to convincing evidence that chemical weapons have been used by Iraq against their Kurdish population.