HC Deb 10 July 1998 vol 315 cc658-9W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 1998,Official Report, columns 7–8, (1) how many staff are currently signed off work for sickness at Porton Down; how many have been signed off for more than a month; and how these figures compare to the average for the last 15 years; [49142]

(2) what health monitoring of staff has taken place at Porton Down in the last 15 years; and what are the results of the monitoring; [49138]

(3) how many staff have left employment at Porton Down for health reasons in the last 15 years; [49140]

(4) how many staff at Porton Down have received inoculations and vaccinations as part of their normal safety regime in the last 15 years; what were the inoculations and vaccinations; and for what specific purpose; [49141]

(5) how many people have retired on health grounds from employment at Porton Down in the last 15 years; [49139]

(6) how many people have been employed at Porton Down in each of the last 15 years; and of these how many were employed on work which required such vaccination. [49143]

Mr. Spellar

These are matters 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. Michael Hancock, dated 10 July 1998: I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Defence to reply to your questions about the health monitoring and vaccination programmes of staff employed in the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) based at Porton Down. The following paragraphs address the areas raised in your six questions. CBD has an occupational health service on site which routinely monitors the health of its staff. The results of such monitoring are "Restricted—Medical in Confidence". A proportion of staff, because of the nature of their research work, receive inoculations and vaccinations in accordance with the guidelines recommended by the Advisory Committee for Dangerous Pathogens. Members of staff at CBD only receive such vaccinations if they are working or are intending to work with a pathogenic organism, or to meet recommendations/requirements for overseas travel in connection with their work. Last year, 130 members of staff received such vaccinations. The research at CBD includes the development of protective measures for the UK Armed Forces against potential biological warfare agents, and I will not disclose full details of the vaccinations under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, I can confirm that these vaccinations include those against plague and anthrax. Details of the numbers of staff who have received vaccinations and the numbers employed on work which has required vaccinations in each of the last fifteen years could only be obtained by examining the individual medical records of all members of staff for that period and would involve disproportionate effort. Members of the occupational health team are vaccinated in accordance with Department of Health guidelines. You also asked about staff on sick leave and those who have retired or left for health reasons. There are currently some 600 staff in CBD Sector at Porton Down. On Monday 29 June 1998 eleven staff were on sick leave and, of those, six have been "signed off" for more than one month. Records show that twenty seven members of staff have retired from or left employment at CBD on health grounds over the last ten years. The format of our records is such that I am unable to readily provide the information as requested. I hope that this information is helpful.