§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions since 1966 his Department has investigated LSD at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down; what were the total number of service volunteers used for these experiments; and if he will make a statement. [24622]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 16 April 1996:
The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency to reply to your question about investigation of LSD since 1966 at the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, Porton Down.We have undertaken a comprehensive search of the summary books recording the involvement of all volunteers in experimental work at Porton Down since 1966. In that year 16 of the service volunteers who participated in the field trial Recount were given LSD and an additional 4 service volunteers took part in laboratory based studies. In 1967 further laboratory based studies were carried out involving 28 service volunteers. In January 1968 13 of the service volunteers who participated in field trial Small Change were given LSD. We have no indication of any administration of LSD to volunteers after the completion of Small Change in 1968.When he replied to your Parliamentary Question about the number of volunteers involved in studies with LSD on 21 November 1994, Dr. Graham Pearson, then the Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, stated that 72 volunteers had participated in the whole programme of work on LSD which continued until 1972. More information has recently been uncovered which has caused us to reassess this. From the records now available we now believe the total number of all exposures to LSD in the programme was 136. A small number of these were second exposures of the same individual. We also now believe that work on LSD ceased in 1968 when the results of trial Small Change confirmed that it was not a serious threat. I am sorry if the earlier information provided to you as inaccurate. I think this occurred because the information available to Dr. Pearson was incomplete and we obviously regret that should have occurred.I hope this letter clarifies matters.