§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out Britain's contribution to the United Nations teams investigating chemical weapons production capacity, and stockpiles in Iraq, together with the budgeted costs; and what arrangements have been made to ensure reimbursements of these costs from the Iraqi Government.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe United Kingdom has provided inspectors for seven chemical weapons inspections as follows:
Inspection United Kingdom inspectors/experts UNSCOM 2 Three UNSCOM 9 One UNSCOM 11 One UNSCOM 12 One UNSCOM 17 Five, including the deputy leader and a CBDE Porton Down analytical team, plus a further CBDE Porton analytical team in the area. UNSCOM 20 One UNSCOM 21 One (this was a joint CW and BW inspection) Samples from UNSCOMs 2, 9 and 11 were analysed at the chemical and biological defence establishment—CBDE—Porton Down. Chemical agent monitors, individual protection equipment, tropical bleach and Fullers' Earth for decontamination, sampling kits, RAF transport, a gas chromatograph—mass spectrometer, infra-red spectrometer and fume cupboards, a generator and specialist search equipment were also made available for use during the inspections.
In addition to providing assistance for specific inspections, a senior CBDE Porton Down scientist is a full time member of the special commission and another is chairman of the commission's chemical weapon destruction advisory panel. Both have participated in fact finding missions to Iraq to discuss plans for the destruction of Iraq's mustard and nerve agent stockpile.
The United Kingdom made available £1 million for costs arising from the implementation of Security Council resolution 687, including equipment costs. The inspectors' travel and subsistence costs are borne by the United Nations. The costs of the commission itself and destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile and facilities will ultimately be recovered from Iraq under the terms of 1991 Security Council resolutions 687, 706 and 712.