HC Deb 23 November 1995 vol 267 cc266-70W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the climatic chamber in the human factors section at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down was built; and what this chamber is used for. [1562]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the climatic chamber in the Human Factors section at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment was built and what it is used for has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. This facility, which is used to assess the effects of wearing protective equipment on personnel in a variety of ambient temperatures and humidities, was built in the early 1950s. I hope this information is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down have been exposed to chemical warfare agents in experiments since 1965; what was the purpose of these experiments; when these experiments took place; and what were the conclusions of these experiments. [1560]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment have been exposed to chemical warfare agents in experiments since 1965 has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. No members of staff have been exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of experiments since 1965. I hope this information is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientific and biological papers were published between 1969 and 1991 under the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment technical paper series; and how many of these papers are now unclassified. [1609]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many papers were published between 1969 and 1991 in the Chemical Defence Establishment Technical Paper series and how many of them are now unclassified has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. A total of 610 technical papers in the CDE Technical Series were published between 1969 and 1991. These reports are now held in a variety of places and it would involve disproportionate effort to check on the current security classification of all of them, bearing in mind that classification is reviewed from time to time. I can, however, tell you that of the total 610 technical papers. 193 were produced as unclassified documents. I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experiments have been carried out in the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's new facility for testing equipment and volunteers since the facility was opened in February 1994; and how many years this new facility is projected to be in service. [1563]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what experiments have been conducted in the new facility opened in February 1994 at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. The new facility opened in February 1994 replaced the exposure chambers previously used to conduct studies involving equipment and service volunteers. To date the new facility has been used to carry out evaluations of collective and individual protection equipment and chemical agent detection systems. No studies involving service volunteers have taken place in this facility so far. The fitting and testing of respirators routinely issued to personnel at CBDE is also carried out in this facility. The lifetime of the facility is projected to he at least twenty years. I hope this information is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of section 6 No. 5 of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's range safety regulation issued in 1984 which relates to the use of exposure chambers. [1564]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if copies of Section 6 No. 5 of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's Range of Safety Regulations issued in 1984 can be placed in the Library of the House of Commons has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. I have made arrangements for a copy of this section of the Range Safety Regulations to be placed in the Library. You should be aware however that the procedures set out in this section refer exclusively to the now disused exposure chambers and not to the facility opened in February 1994. I hope this information is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new buildings are planned to be built at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, as part of its building replacement programme. [1610]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995: Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what new buildings are planned to be built at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down as part of the building replacement plan has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions. CBDE are currently undertaking an investment appraisal into the possibility and viability of replacing a number of the ageing buildings with more modern, cost effective structures. The scheme being considered provides for replacement buildings for the Medical Countermeasures, Detection, Protection and Hazard Assessment Sections together with their support facilities in a floor area considerably smaller than that presently occupied. The scheme has yet to receive permission to proceed to the design stage. CBDE are about to award a design commission for a new Containment Building for work with microbiological organisms. If constructed this building will replace some of the old Microbiological building which will then be demolished. The scheme does not currently have permission to proceed beyond the design stage. I hope this information is helpful.

Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the conclusion of the research work at Nancekuke to investigate the storage of GB referred to in his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 709; and when this work was carried out. [1616]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:

Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what the conclusions of the research carried out at Nancekuke to investigate the storage of GB has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment as one of its divisions.The work carried out at Nancekuke on the long term storage of the nerve gas GB took place from 1957 until the late 1970s and concluded that, suitably stabilised, the agent would have a shelf life in excess of twenty years.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Health and Safety Executive last conducted a safety inspection at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; and when the next Health and Safety Executive inspection of the establishment is scheduled; [1561]

(2) if he will place in the Library copies of reports arising out of the Health and Safety Executive inspections of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in 1983 and 1988. [1615]

Mr. Arbuthnot

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:

Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the Health and Safety Executive last inspected the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down and if copies of the reports of the inspections carried out in 1983 and 1988 can be placed in the Library of the House of Commons has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.The Health and Safety Executive last carried out a full safety inspection at CBDE in 1988. The next inspection is scheduled to take place early in 1996. Requests for placing copies of the reports of the Health and Safety Executive inspections in the House of Commons Library should be made to the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the 21 safety audits referred to in his answer of 18 July,Official Report, columns 175–76 reviewed the arrangements for carrying out tests and studies in the service volunteer programme. [1611]

Mr. Soames

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm. to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:

Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if the safety audits referred to in the answer of 18 July, Official Report, column 175–6 reviewed the arrangements for carrying out tests and studies in the service volunteer programme has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.The safety audits referred to in the reply of 18th July were not concerned with the Service Volunteer programme. All protocols for conducting studies which involve the use of Service volunteers are reviewed by the Independent Ethics Committee.I hope this information is helpful.