§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements have existed to warn service personnel who took part in tests and studies in the service volunteers programme at the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down since 1965 of 1173W the risks to their health, both in the short-term and long-term, of the experiments; when these arrangements were put in place; and if they have conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki declarations on medical research on humans. [35570]
(2) what arrangements have been made by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down to obtain the voluntary informed consent of service personnel who have participated in tests and studies in the service volunteers programme since 1965; when these arrangements were set up; and what steps he has taken to ascertain whether they conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki declarations on medical research on humans. [35563]
§ Mr. SoamesThese matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking about the arrangements since 1965 for warning Service Volunteers about the nature of the research in which they participate and what steps were taken to obtain their consent, have 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. This reply covers both questions.All work with Service Volunteers since 1991 has required the approval of the Independent Ethics Committee before the study can begin. Protocols submitted for review by this Committee include a lay statement which is read to the volunteers by a military officer prior to them participating in the investigation. The lay statement explains the purpose, nature and any discomfort which may be experienced. Further briefing by the investigators carrying out the study is also carried out and the volunteers can withdraw from the study at any time without requiring to give a reason. Prior to the creation of the Independent Ethics Committee all studies involving the use of Service Volunteers were subject to review by the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE). Similar methods were used to acquaint the volunteers with the nature of the investigation in which they participated.All work involving the use of Service Volunteers since 1965 has conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki Declaration on the use of humans in medical research.I hope this information is helpful.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 714–15, what the studies to investigate the physiological load imposed by wearing the mark 4 NBC suit in various climatic conditions entailed; what exercises and tasks were performed by service volunteers; where these studies took place; what chemicals were used in the studies; and what was the conclusion of the studies. [35606]
§ Mr. SoamesThis matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the physiological studies on the MkIV NBC suit 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 Divisons.1174WPhysiological studies on the Mk1V NBC suit conducted at CBDE involve performing various levels of exercise under different conditions of humidity and ambient temperature. The nature of the exercise includes walking on a treadmill or lifting loads of varying weights. All such studies are carried out with constant physiological monitoring and under medical supervision. Volunteers are encouraged to drink water and are provided with food while participating in the investigations. No chemical agents have been used in these studies. The conclusion of these studies have led to recommendations on the level of workload and its duration for personnel wearing protective clothing under different climatic conditions.I hope this information is helpful.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 July,Official Report, columns 367–68, if the policy of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, is such that service personnel who took part in the service volunteers programme at the establishment can have copies of the original laboratory reports and data held by the establishment on the experiments in which they participated; and if he will make a statement; [35610]
(2) what records are held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, on service personnel who take part in tests and studies in the service volunteers' programme; what details are kept in these records; and if these records are kept in a computer or on paper. [35569]
§ Mr. SoamesThese matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking about the records of Service Volunteer studies held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) and also if they could be released to the individuals involved has been passed to me to reply as the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which now includes CBDE as one of its Divisions. I am replying to both questions in this letter.It is currently the practice to keep records of the personal details of the volunteer, including name, rank, service number, unit, date of birth and age at the time of the study, as part of a paper folder raised for each volunteer. This folder also includes full details of the volunteer's medical history, the results of the pre and post study medical examinations and details of any medical condition arising co-incidental to the study. In order to facilitate administration the name, rank and service number of volunteers is held on computer but not the medical details contained in an individual's folder.My answer to your previous question about records, dated 5 July, covered CBDE's long standing policy concerning the release of information held on Service Volunteers.I hope this information is helpful.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what tests and studies have been carried out since 1965 at the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down on service volunteers with Lewisite; what was the aim of these experiments; how the vesicant was administered to volunteers; what was the conclusion of these experiments; when these tests were carried out; how many service volunteers were involved in these tests and studies; and where and what dates the results of these tests were published in open literature. [35568]
1175W(2) what tests and studies have been carried out since 1965 at the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down on service volunteers with compound cyclohexyl methylphosponefluoridate; what was the purpose of these tests; how the compound was administered to volunteers; what were the conclusions of these experiments; when these tests were carried out; how many service volunteers were involved in these experiments; and where and on what dates the results of these tests were published in open literature. [35617]
§ Mr. SoamesThese matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what studies with Service Volunteers have been carried out since 1965 with the chemical warfare agents Lewisite and cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GF) have 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.There have been no studies involving Service Volunteers using either Lewisite or GF since 1965.I hope this information is helpful.