Porton Down (Hansard, 4 December 1996)

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) scientific journals and (b) other open publications in which staff from the medical division of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, published papers between 1984 and 1990 arising out of their work and research, indicating the date of publication. [6923]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This 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 Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question asking for a list of the scientific journals and other open publications in which staff in the Medical Division of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment published papers between 1984 and 1990. We have checked our records and in the time available have been able to identify the following publications:

Environmental Health Perspectives

(1990) Vol.85(81–87)

British Journal of Pharmacology

(1985) Vol.85 (Suppl.)(301)

Vol.85 (Suppl.)(301)(1990)Vol.101

Vol.86(Suppl.)(729)

Vol.86(Suppl.)(740)

(1986) Vol.87(Suppl.)(119)

Thorax

(1990) Vol.45 Issue 10(802)

Human Experimental Toxicology

(1990) Vol.9 Issue 3 (125–129)

Vol.9 Issue 4 (215–220)

Vol.9 Issue 4 (245–250)

Mutation Research

(1990) Vol.230 Issue 1 (71–80)

Hazardous Materials

(1988) Vol.17 Issue 3 (269–285)

Vol.17 Issue 3 (269–286)

(1989) Vol.21 Issue 1 (1–13)

Vol.21 Issue 1 (73–88)
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Vol.22 Issue 3 (269–282)

Archives of Toxicology

(1988) Vol.62 Issue (2–3) (123–32)

Human Toxicology

(1984) Vol.3 Issue 4 (289–308)

(1985) Vol.4 Issue 6 (591–600)

(1986) Vol.5 Issue 5 (295–301)

Vol.5 Issue 5 (295–302)

Vol.5 Issue 5 (303–307)

Vol.5 Issue 5 (303–308)

Vol.5 Issue 6 (413–414)

(1987) Vol.6 Issue 2 (133–138)

Vol.6 Issue 2 (139–145)

Vol.6 Issue 5 (434–435)

(1988) Vol.7 Issue 2 (183–6)

(1989) Vol.8 Issue 1 (64–65)

Vol.8 Issue 1 (65–66)

Toxicology

(1984) Vol.31 Issue 2 (165–173)

Vol.31 Issue 2 (165–174)

(1988) Vol.51 Issue 1 (101–110)

Vol.51 Issue 2–3 (213–222)

(1989) Vol.57 Issue 2 (209–215)

Toxicology Letters

(1984) Vol.21 Issue 2 (141–6)

Vol.23 Issue 3 (359–65)

Vol.23 Issue 3 (359–365)

(1987) Vol.36 Issue 3 (281–7)

Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry

(1987) Vol.50 Issue 4 (471–5)

Royal Army Medical Corps

(1989) Vol.135 Issue 3 (124–130)

Haemoglobin

(1988) Vo1.12 Issue I (53–60)

Ellis Horwood Series in Biomedicine:

(1989) pg 17–50.

Adverse Drug Reactions Acute Poisoning Review

(1988) Vol.7 Issue 4 (179–206)

Pathology

(1988) Vol.155 Issue 3 (221–224)

Journal of Trauma

(1984) Vol.24 Issue 3 (188–200)

(1988) Vol.28 (Suppl.l) S40–54

Drugs and Driving: First International Symposium on Prescription Drugs and Driving Performance. Published by Taylor and Francis. ISBN 0-85066-290-7.0(O). 1986 pages 291–302.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B Comparative Biochemistry

(1987) Vol.86 Issue 1 (141–148).

Xenobiotica

(1987) Vol.17 Issue 1 (79–84).

British Journal Experimental Pathology

(1986) Vol.67 Issue 2 (259–268).

Journal of Immunology methods

(1984) Vol.70 Issue I (75–82).

I hope this information is helpful.

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§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the study into the effects of soman referred to in his answer of 6 June,official Report, column 519, was carried out. [6932]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the time when the study involving the nerve agent Soman took place. From examination of the available laboratory records the majority of the work conducted for this study took place between September 1988 and July 1990. I hope this information is helpful.

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's assessment of the link between short-term exposure to nerve agents and OP-induced delayed neuropathy. [6933]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's assessment of the link between short term exposure to nerve agents and OP-induced delayed neuropathy. Studies have been carried out at Porton Down to assess the potential of the nerve agents tabun (GA), sarin (GB) and soman (GD) and VX to induce delayed neuropathy. In the studies only the nerve agent GB induced delayed neuropathy and then only using well in excess of lethal doses. The results of these studies were published in the British Journal of Pharmacology Vol.31 page 295–299 and Archives of Toxicology Volume 52 pages 71–82. I hope this information is helpful.

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's assessment of whether short-term exposure to mustard gas causes(a) chronic bronchitis, (b) chronic laryngitis and (c) delayed keratitis of the eye. [6928]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's assessment of the effects on health of short term exposure to mustard agent. CBD Porton Down does not make its assessments of the efficacy of chemical warfare agents public. However some observations about mustard agent poisoning during the First World War have been published and indicate that following exposure to very high concentrations of sulphur mustard, delayed keratitis can occur. This effect is referred to in papers published in 1940 by TJ Phillips (Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine Vol.33 (229–232) and in 1942 by WF Hughes (Archives of Ophthalmology, Vol.27 (582–601). We are aware that First World War veterans were awarded disability compensation for respiratory disorders which were believed to have resulted from sulphur mustard poisoning. However other factors such as cigarette smoking, influenza and other 663W environmental effects were not taken into consideration and a definite causal link between sulphur mustard exposure and chronic respiratory disorders such as bronchitis or laryngitis has not been established. I hope this information is helpful.

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment concluded its work on the contract into the defeat of attacks by ballistic missiles with chemical and biological warheads; what was the total value of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [6930]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question about work undertaken by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) into the defeat of attacks by ballistic missiles with chemical and biological warheads. As the reply dated 3 February 1995 from Dr Pearson, the then Director General CBDE to your earlier enquiry indicated, this work is being carried out with US funding under the 1985 US/UK 'SDI' Memorandum of Understanding. The further option year referred to in Dr Pearson's letter was in fact taken up and work under this current Government-to-Government agreement is due to complete at the end of this year, with a total value of $11.2M. It is possible that a new agreement, to continue work in this area, will be negotiated. I hope this is helpful.

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment started work on the contract relating to a commercially available anti-emetic drug to protect service men against nuclear radiation-induced nausea; and when this contract ended. [6931]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the work conducted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment on commercially available anti-emetic drugs. I am not clear to which contract your question refers. Staff at Porton Down have carried out a number of studies to assess whether some commercially available anti-emetic drugs cause any side effects which might impair the military performance or well-being of service personnel. The studies do not address the efficacy of these drugs. The research programme began in September 1991 and although a major project was completed early this year. we are still carrying out some work. I hope this information is helpful.

§ Mr. Livingstone
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what methods the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, is monitoring and checking the health of its former staff who are exposed to chemical warfare agents during their employment at the establishment after they have left Porton Down. [6922]

§ Mr. Arbuthnot
This is a matter for the chief executive of DERA. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 4 December 1996: I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the methods used by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down to monitor the health of former staff exposed to chemical warfare agents during their employment. All work involving the use of chemical warfare agents is conducted following appropriate health and safety guidelines. Members of staff are not therefore generally exposed to chemical warfare agents whilst carrying out their duties at Porton Down. It is not considered necessary to carry out any subsequent health monitoring of individuals after they have left Porton Down. I hope this information is helpful.