Porton Down (Hansard, 2 February 1993)

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton

This is a matter for the chemical and biological defence establishment (CBDE) under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive of CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 2 February 1993: 1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what is the sourse of the biological and chemical agents used in prophylactic research at Porton Down Chemical Research Establishment (Question 6. Order Paper 25 January 1993) has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures (including prophylactic measures) against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of protective measures against the range of potential chemical and biological agents. This involves the use of small quantities of chemical agents which are largely synthesised as required. Some of the chemical agents are provided from residual stocks originally prepared at Nancekuke and on occasion it is necessary to obtain compounds from external suppliers. In respect of biological agents, these are usually produced from cultures held at CBDE Porton Down although again on occasion it is necessary to obtain culture samples from external sources. 156W 3. The Chemical Weapons Convention which recently opened for signature in Paris allows States Parties to carry out work on protective measures and permits each State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention to have a single small scale facility in which small quantities of Schedule I chemicals for protective purposes can be prepared or stored. The United Kingdom small scale facility will be at CBDE Porton Down.