HC Deb 08 February 1990 vol 166 cc775-6W
Ms. Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many contracts or agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education in the field of genetic engineering;

(2) how many contracts or agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to the production or application of monoclonal antibodies;

(3) how many projects in the field of aerobiology are currently funded by his Department; and whether there are any negotiations to fund further projects;

(4) what contracts and agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to nerve gases;

(5) what contracts or agreements currently exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education concerning research into biological or chemical weapons;

(6) what research contracts and agreements exist between his Department and universities and other institutions of higher education for research related to anthrax;

(7) what research his Department is sponsoring into the viability and infectivity of Klebsiella pneumonia; and if he will make a statement;

(8) whether his Department monitors the potential for offensive use of research it supports in the area of aerobiology by foreign or third parties.

Mr. Neubert

As we have repeatedly made clear, the United Kingdom has no chemical or biological weapons and no plans to acquire any. All research undertaken by or commissioned by the MOD in the chemical and biological field is defensive in nature and is to provide information which assists in the provision of effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons might be used against the United Kingdom armed forces.

This research includes a number of agreements with universities and institutes of higher education in a range of research areas such as genetic engineering and monoclonal antibodies. It is not our policy to go into details of specific research areas.