§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work in the field of chemical and biological warfare the United Kingdom was carried out at the Canadian military establishment at Suffield in Alberta; and what was the nature of this work.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe experimental station Suffield in Alberta was set up in 1941 under an agreement with the Canadian Government to establish a joint United Kingdom-Canadian chemical weapons experimental site. About 10 United Kingdom scientists went to Canada to help set up the new site. By 1946, the station was entirely staffed by Canadians and was taken over by the Canadian Defence Research Board in April 1947 and eventually became the Defence Research Establishment Suffield. During the second world war there was collaboration between the United Kingdom and Canada involving work at Suffield on a retaliatory capability in chemical weapons and biological weapons against the threat that such weapons might be used against the allied forces. Both the United Kingdom and Canada have abandoned all work on offensive chemical and biological warfare and since then both countries have been solely concerned with the provision of effective protective measures for their armed forces against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. Collaboration in chemical and biological defence has continued up to and358W including the present day under various collaborative arrangements already outlined in my reply of 21 May 1992, Official Report, columns 255–56.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 16, if he will publish the text or details of the 1980 memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological (CB) defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada; what is the purpose of the agreement; whether the memorandum is still in force; what amendments have been made and for what reasons; and whether the results of research in British universities and polytechnics funded by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment have been passed to other countries under this memorandum.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe memorandum of understanding (MOU) remains in force and is classified. Since it was signed in 1980, there have been four amendments; three to extend the MOU and one to expand its scope. The MOU addresses exchange of information on chemical and biological defence research and development and on production and procurement of chemical and biological defence equipment.
Reports of research in British universities and polytechnics funded by the chemical and biological defence establishment are not routinely passed direct to the United States and Canada, but the results of such work contribute to the science and technology base which is shared with these countries.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 255, with regard to the UnitedKingdom—UnitedStates—Canada—Australia armies agreement referred to in point (c), when the agreement was signed; in what year the panel on nuclear, biological and chemical defence within the quadrupartite working group started its work; what is the nature of its work; who are the members of the panel; and whether members of the Ministry of Defence visit United States Department of Defence establishments in the course of the workings of this panel.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA Basic Standardisation Agreement (BSA) was agreed between the American, British and Canadian armies in 1954. In 1963 the Australian army joined the programme and all four armies ratified the BSA in 1964. The quadrupartite working group on nuclear biological and chemical (NBC) defence first met in 1978 and its purpose is to identify and recommend to armies how interoperability may be achieved in the field of NBC defence. The five United Kingdom members of the group are drawn from Ministry of Defence branches which are active in NBC defence. The group meets every 18 months on a cyclical basis in the United States. United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Meetings in the United States are held at department of defense establishments.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 255, in what year the sub-group for chemical and biological defence research, referred to in point (f) of the answer, was set up; what is the nature of its work; and when Australia and New Zealand formally joined the programme.
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§ Mr. AitkenThe sub-group for chemical and biological defence research, involving the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia, was formed in 1967. Its aim is to guide and co-ordinate exchanges and active collaboration in research and development activities for chemical and biological defence. New Zealand has not actively participated in this sub-group.