§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he has made an assessment of the offensive capability of genetically manipulated biological warfare and toxin warfare agents; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list those bacteria he is still considering as potential putative agents;
(3) what is the purpose of his Department's work with Q fever; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question on 23 April 1990 at column76.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the dangers to personnel from working with genetically manipulated biological warfare and toxin warfare agents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question on 23 April 1990 at column76.
In the handling of any materials in these categories, the Department follows the strict assessment criteria and protocols advised by the independent advisory committee on genetic manipulation, as well as according with the regulations covering the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989.