HC Deb 16 January 1995 vol 252 cc368-9W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if animals are used in scientific experiments relating to illness arising out of Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Soames

This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 16 January 1995:

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if animals are used in scientific experiments relating to illness arising out of Operation GRANBY and if he will make a statement has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them.

3. No work is being carried out at CBDE to investigate illness which may have arisen out of Operation GRANBY.

4. However, following the Gulf conflict, increased emphasis has been placed on biological defence which primarily consists of detection and medical countermeasures. The programme of work on medical countermeasures includes the continuing study of both vaccines and antibiotics against a range of potential biological warfare agents. This work has necessitated the use of more animals.