§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals took part in the service volunteers programme at the chemical defence establishment during 1996. [12201]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the numbers of service volunteers as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.During 1996 forty two service volunteers took part in various studies as part of service volunteers programme run by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo 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 defence establishment published papers in 1991 and 1992 arising out of their work and research, indicating the date of publication. [12202]
658W
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about scientific journals and open publications in which staff from the medical division at Porton Down have published papers as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.Available databases show that during the years 1991 and 1992 staff from the medical division of the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down published papers in the following scientific journals.In 1991:- Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Review; International Journal of Experimental Pathology; Human Experimental Toxicology; British Journal of Plastic Surgery; Proceedings of the British Toxicology Society; York, England, UK, September 20–21 1990 published in Human Experimental Toxicology; Journal of Biomechanics.In 1992:- British Journal of Surgery; Human Experimental Toxicology; Clinical Intensive Care; Psychopharmacology; Journal of Audiovisual Media in Medicine; Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons England.I hope this is helpful.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what concentrations of the chemical agent CN the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has assessed that the long-term clinical effects occur; and when this assessment was made. [12184]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about concentrations of the agent CN assessed by DERA as causing long-term clinical effects as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.CN, chloracetophenone, belongs to a group of agents referred to as tear gases; these cause sensory irritation to the eyes, nose and skin.DERA has not assessed the concentrations of CN that cause long term clinical effects. Most of the information concerning long-term effects in man are based on case reports from the United States, following widespread use during the 1960s Civil Rights Riots. These reports contain no reliable information regarding the concentrations of CN that produced such effects.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what doses of mustard gas have been assessed by DERA as causing scarring of the conjunctiva and permanent damage. [12185]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about doses of mustard gas assessed by DERA as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.659WThe Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA has not assessed the dose levels of mustard gas which cause scarring of the conjunctiva and permanent damage.However DERA is aware of case reports from the United States which suggest that doses of between 400 and 800 milligrams per cubic metre per minute of mustard vapour result in corneal damage with ulceration and scarring of the conjunctiva.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out at the chemical defence establishment into a sensory irritant known as 1-methoxycycloheptatriene since 1967; what was the object of this research; when this research was carried out; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12177]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about research into the sensory irritant known as 1-methoxycycloheptatriene (MCHT) as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down investigated MCHT in the period between 1974 and the mid-1980s. The studies were intermittent and designed to investigate the sensory irritancy and safety of the compound.The studies concluded that the advantages of using 1-methoxycycloheptatriene compared to conventional sensory irritants such as CS were not significant.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's assessment of the effect on human health in(a) the short-term and (b) the long-term of one-off exposure to oleoresin capsicum; what research has been carried out by the chemical defence establishment into oleoresin capsicum since 1967; what was the purpose of this research; when this research was conducted; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12181]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the effects of and research into oleoresin capsicum as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.Oleoresin capsicum (OC) is a natural oil of the chilli pepper. Chemically, it is a complex mixture of over one hundred volatile compounds, in which capsaicin is a principle compound. The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down has not conducted any practical research on oleoresin capsicum, but it has used capsaicin as a positive control in a number of animal tissue studies designed to evaluate the relative sensory irritancy of a number of compounds.As far as the effects of oleoresin capsicum on human health are concerned, it is reported in the technical literature that short term exposure causes pain and irritation of the membranes lining the eyes, nose and mouth. Blistering and a rash have been shown to occur after chronic or prolonged exposure of the skin. Ingestion of capsicum may cause acute stinging of the lips, tongue and mouth, 660W and may lead to vomiting and diarrhoea with large doses. Inhalation of the vapours may also cause significant irritation of the airways and prolonged cough.In the long-term, a single acute exposure to OC may affect the temperature regulatory mechanisms of the body and can affect the neurological system producing long-term insensitivity to pain.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to mustard gas. [12175]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understood he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to mustard gas as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.Mustard gas, (bis (2-chloroeythyl) sulphide), belongs to a group of chemical warfare agents known as vesicant or blistering agents.DERA's evaluation, based on historical evidence including casualty reports from the First World War and more recent nursing of Iranian patients in the UK in the mid-1980s, indicates that short term exposure to mustard gas affects the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Additionally, the evidence available from literature and practical studies is that the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive organs and bone marrow are affected if high doses are absorbed into the body. The effects on the skin consist of reddening followed by blistering; similar effects are seen at the other affected areas. Once the blisters rupture, ulceration of the skin follows; these injuries take a long while to heal. The effects on the eyes, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract are similar to those seen in the skin. Initially the tissues become inflamed and swollen. Eventually, the protective membranes break down and areas of ulceration result.I hope this is helpful.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the chemical defence establishment's evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite. [12179]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the evaluation of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.Lewisite is one of a group of chemical warfare agents known as vesicants or blistering agents.The Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA's evaluation based on US human studies from the 1940s and continuing Porton Down animal studies of the effects of short-term exposure to lewisite are that both liquid and vapour forms result in chemical burns to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Lewisite injuries are immediately painful. The potential for widespread damage to the internal organs is significant.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out at the chemical defence establishment into perfuoroisobutene 661W since 1967; what was the object of this research; when this research was carried out; and what was the conclusion of this research. [12178]
§ Mr. SpellarThis is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend and understand he did so on 20 August 1997.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 20 August 1997:
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about research into perfluorisobutene as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.Since 1967 some research into perfluorisobutene has been undertaken at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of DERA at Porton Down to assess whether its use as a chemical weapon would pose a potential hazard to the UK Armed Forces. This research encompassed: material producibility, material toxicity, an assessment of material dispersion, the performance of UK CBD protective equipment in providing protection against this material and possible methods of providing pretreatment and treatment against poisoning.The bulk of this research was conducted during the 1980s with some research on protective measures had medical treatment still ongoing. It has been concluded that this material does have potential as a possible chemical weapon agent and that it does pose a potential hazard to UK Armed Forces. As a consequence of this research certain equipment modifications have been introduced.