§ 26. Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recent changes to the structure and functions of the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down. [22332]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe function of the chemical and biological defence establishment remains unchanged. It provides Her Majesty's Government with advice on the threat posed by chemical and biological weapons and carries out research to ensure that the United Kingdom's armed forces are provided with safe and effective protection. Since 1 April 1995, CBDE, with the chemical and electronic systems sector, has been a division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. On 1 April 1996, CBDE is being renamed the protection and life sciences division. At the same time, it will be expanded to include the centre for human sciences based at Farnborough, which will incorporate the defence radiological protection service based at Alverstoke. The mission for the new division will be to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to protecting the human being in military environments and optimising their military effectiveness.