§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will order an investigation into the circumstances in which polyethylene glycol was released 33W from a Royal Air Force aircraft over the town of Amesbury on an occasion in October; and if he will make it his policy to publish the results;
(2) what is the damage to private property caused by the release of polyethylene glycol by a Royal Air Force aircraft over the town of Amesbury;
(3) what was the purpose of spraying troops with polyethylene glycol on the occasion in October when a quantity of this chemical was released over the town of Amesbury;
(4) what were the chemical constituents of the liquid released by a Royal Air Force aircraft over the town of Amesbury on an occasion in October.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 10 November 1989 at columns798–99.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the chemical formulae of the substances that are used during chemical weapons training.
§ Mr. NeubertThe MOD does not undertake chemical weapons training. The only materials released from the air as stimulants for chemical and biological defence training are water and polythylene glycol 300.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what health and safety measures are taken to ensure the health of those service personnel involved in chemical weapons training;
(2) what steps are taken to monitor the health of those service personnel involved in chemical weapons training.
§ Mr. NeubertAll equipment and simulants used for training purposes go through a thorough scrutiny and approval procedure before being cleared for service use, and there is, therefore, no specific reason to monitor service men's health following chemical and biological defence training. However, the health of service personnel is routinely monitored.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical formula of the substance that was discharged by an aircraft operating from the aircraft and armaments establishment at Boscombe Down on 25 October.
§ Mr. NeubertThe chemical training agent discharged from an aircraft operated by A and AEE Boscombe Down on 25 October was polyethylene glycol 300. Its chemical formula is CH2(OH).(CH2O CH2)m.CH2OH, where m may be a 5 or 6.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any(a) injuries or fatalities recorded on and (b) injuries, illnesses or fatalities that have resulted from chemical weapons training.
§ Mr. NeubertThere are no recorded illnesses, injuries or fatalities resulting directly from the use of simulants in chemical and biological defence training.