HC Deb 18 July 1995 vol 263 cc1162-7W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the reasons for extending the memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada in(a) November 1994 and (b) October 1984. [35567]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The memorandum of understanding—MOU—on chemical and biological defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada was extended in October 1984 and November 1994 in order to ensure that the current activities conducted under the MOU could continue.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 369, when the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments exercised its right to veto studies, and why. [35613]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Although the committee had the right of veto it was more importantly concerned with the modification of protocols and maintaining the register of the work carried out. For these reasons it is difficult from the records available to identify specific occasions on which this right was exercised.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 370, if he will list the current members of the independent ethics committee; and if he will consider placing in the Library copies of the minutes of this committee with the matters of commercial and defence sensitivity removed. [35614]

Mr. Arbuthnot

With respect to listing the names of the current members of the ethics committee, I shall write to the hon Member. Concerning the placing of copies of the minutes of this committee with matters of commercial and defence sensitivity removed, such a document would be meaningless and I see no reason therefore to do so.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 369, what is the function of the defence nuclear biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner; when it was set up; and which agency controls it. [35612]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The original unit, which now forms the defence nuclear biological and chemical centre—DNBCC—at Winterbourne Gunner was set up in 1916. The DNBCC's function is to be the focal point for tri-service NBC defence matters, including training of selected personnel of all three services and foreign and Commonwealth forces in NBC defence measures on land. It also carries out staff studies and trials on all aspects of NBC defence and on equipment and procedures. The centre is sponsored by the inspector general training on behalf of the armed services.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 279, which sites have been visited by officials formulating the draft declaration; and which Departments other than the Ministry of Defence are helping to formulate this declaration. [35608]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Officials formulating the draft declaration have visited a number of sites. They include MOS Randle, CDRE Sutton Oak, CDE Nancecuke, MOS Valley, MOS Rocksavage, MOS Hillhouse, MOS Springfields, Barnham Heath, Norton Disney, Lord's Bridge and West Cottingwith. It is not anticipated that all of these sites will need to be declared under the terms of the chemical weapons convention. Officials from the DTI, the FCO and MAFF are involved in formulating this declaration.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the conclusions and recommendations of the meetings held in(a) May 1969 and (b) April 1990 of the sub-group E on chemical and biological defence of the technical co-operation programme. [35571]

Mr. Arbuthnot

I will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how Britain's decision to abandon production of chemical weapons contributed towards the signing of the chemical weapons convention; for what reasons Britain decided to abandon production of chemical weapons; and if this decision to abandon chemical weapons was taken in consultation with the United States of America. [35572]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The United Kingdom's decision in the 1950's to abandon its retaliatory offensive chemical weapons production capability and stocks of CW munitions was taken after reassessment of the most effective deterrents to aggression in keeping with national financial capabilities. The decision was not taken in consultation with the United States of America.

The UK has long supported the implementation of international agreements on the control, destruction and the eventual abolition of these weapons, as is now offered by the chemical weapons convention, but we also accepted that in the absence of such an agreement, some retaliatory capability within NATO was a necessary deterrent.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, column 368, when the combined therapy auto-injector to combat the post-attack symptoms of nerve agent poisoning was issued for use by the armed forces; what antidotes can be used in the auto-injector and what is the effect of these antidotes; when the studies to develop the auto-injector took place with service volunteers; how many service volunteers took part in these studies; and what these studies entailed. [35611]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The current combined therapy auto-injector entered into service between January and July 1990. The injector contains Atropine, which directly counteracts the effects of excess Ach, nerve messenger; Pralidoxine Mesylate to reactivate inhibited acetylcholinesterase and Avizafone which acts as an anti-convulsant.

Studies to develop this therapy have been conducted over many years, and to provide details of all the studies would involve disproportionate cost.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what ways the work of sub-group E on chemical and biological defence of the technical co-operation programme has promoted the successful collaboration in chemical and biological defence research between the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Australia; how many meetings of this sub-group have been held since 1993; where they were held; which countries took part; and who represented the British Government. [35604]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The technical co-operation programme—TTCP—provides a means of acquainting the participating countries with each others' defence research and development programmes so that each national programme may be planned to avoid unnecessary duplication. It promotes action to identify and close gaps in the collective technology base. It also assures each country of the best technical advice available for their Governments and military forces.

Sub-group E covers all aspects of chemical and biological defence including, inter alia, detection, survivability and medical treatment. It meets once a year to review programmes and exchange information and to oversee a number of collaborative research programmes.

Three meetings have been held since 1993; Washington, 1993; Toronto, 1994; Melbourne 1995. Countries taking part were the United States of America, Canada, Australia and the UK. The UK representative was the Director (Physical Sciences) CBDE, now Director of the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of CBDE.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities exist underground at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; when each of these facilities was built; and what are the functions of each of these facilities. [35562]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:

Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the underground facilities belonging to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes CBDE as one of its Divisions.A small number of sampling chambers were constructed underground at CBDE between the First and Second World Wars. These were used in trials to determine the dispersion of chemical agents. They have now fallen into disuse.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 276, if he will list the titles and subject matter of each of the 17 unclassified papers in the Porton technical papers series; and what was the name of the series of papers which replaced the Porton technical papers after they were closed. [35609]

(2) how many scientific papers in the series called Nancekuke reports were produced by the Chemical Defence Establishment at Nancekuke since 1965; when this series started and finished; and how many of them are unclassified. [35564]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report, columns 716–17, on what dates staff from the biological division and the chemistry and decontamination division of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment published the results of their research in the scientific journals named. [35618]

(4) pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report, column 709, what was the conclusion of the research work on the nerve agent GB at Nancekuke to study the impurities and by-products found in the GB product; when this conclusion was reached; which by-products were studied; and when the results of this research were exchanged with the United States of America, Canada and Australia. [35621]

(5) how many scientific papers in the series called Porton notes were produced by the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down since 1965; when this series started and finished; and how many of them are unclassified. [35565]

(6) what research has been carried out on the nerve agent GF at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since the closure of the nerve agent plant at Nancekuke; what quantity of the nerve agent GF has been used in this research at Porton Down; what was the aim of the research; when the results of this research were exchanged with other countries; and under which defence agreement the results were shared. [35615]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from Elizabeth Reeve to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:

I am writing to let you know that because of the research required I shall not be able to reply to a number of your priority written questions within the normal timescale. The questions concerned are as follows:
  • Pursuant to answer of 16 March (Col 716–7), the dates on which CBDE staff published the results of their work;
  • How many "Porton Notes" series papers were produced since 1965;
  • How many papers in the Nancecuke Reports series were produced by CBDE since 1965;
  • Titles & subject matter of "Portion Technical Papers" & name of series which replaced "Portion Technical Papers";
  • Research on nerve agent GF;
  • Conclusion of work on nerve agent GB at Nancekuke.

I will of course let you have replies as soon as possible. I am sorry if this causes any inconvenience.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 279, when the studies with service volunteers with nerve agent GB were conducted; how many service volunteers were involved; what was the purpose of the studies; what was the conclusion of the studies; and if the amount of GB used in these studies needs to be approved at ministerial level. [35619]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from Elizabeth Reeve to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:

Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for further details of the research carried out with the nerve agent GB involving Serving Volunteers has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.Various nerve agent studies involving the use of Service Volunteers have taken place at CBDE since the late 1940's and have involved some 300 volunteers. The most recent series of studies which were completed in 1989 were carried out in order to ascertain the effects of exposure to low levels GB. The conclusions of the studies have resulted in enhanced protective measures for UK service personnel. The details of specific experiments are not subject to ministerial approval.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July,Official Report, column 278, what was the conclusion of the studies with mustard gas to determine the effectiveness of decontamination procedures and protective measures; what was the highest amount of mustard gas applied in small drops in patch tests; if this amount needs to be approved at ministerial level; and in what year the last study involving mustard gas and service volunteers was conducted. [35620]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:

Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the studies conducted with mustard agent using Service Volunteers has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.The studies referred to in my reply of 5 July, which were carried out over a number of years formed an integral part of the research programme at CBDE. I am unable to discuss the conclusions of this work in detail but can say that it has led to the introduction of more effective protective and decontamination measures for the UK Armed Forces. The amount of mustard applied in patch tests was determined after sensitivity tests had been carried out on the volunteer. This sensitivity test involved the application of one drop of a dilute solution of mustard to the forearm. Mustard agent had been used in studies at the research establishments at Porton Down since the First World War and we are unable to determine if Ministerial approval was sought before the work commenced. No studies involving the use of mustard agent with Service Volunteers have been carried out since 1979.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and studies have been carried out by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, on CS gas foam; what was the purpose and conclusions of these tests with the foam; when the tests were carried out with the foam; and if the tests involved service volunteers. [35573]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingston, dated 18 July 1995:

Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the use of CS foam in studies carried out by the Chemical and Biological Establishment (CBDE) has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes CBDE as one of its Divisions.The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has not carried out any studies on CS foam.I hope this information is helpful.