§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out by the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, to test the new treatment of a combination of the drugs physostigmine and hyoscine against nerve agents; when 121W these tests (a) began and (b) ended; what were their conclusions; and when the new treatment entered service with the armed forces. [10245]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThis is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisolm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 13 January 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your question concerning studies carried out by Porton Down to test the new combination of physostigmine and hyoscine against the effects of nerve agents. The Chemical Biological Defence Section (CBD) at Porton Down is now part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.Assessments of the physostigmine hyoscine combination as a possible pre-treatment against nerve agent poisoning were first reported by CBD in 1984. Further studies into its effect against a range of different nerve agents and its electrophysiological, biochemical and behavioural effects have continued since then and are still ongoing.No work to determine the efficacy of the pre-treatment against the effects of nerve agent poisoning has been conducted on humans. Studies to assess the military acceptability of the commercially licensed drugs which are combined in the proposed pre-treatment have recently commenced. This work will continue for some years before any recommendations can be made regarding the suitability of the proposed pre-treatment for general use with UK armed forces. The new physostigmine/hyoscine pre-treatment has not yet entered service with UK armed forces.I hope this information is helpful.