§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of spraying bacillus golbigii, E.coli and serratia marcescens on(a) humans, (b) men, (c) women and (d) pregnant women; [43290]
(2) if he will conduct a study of the health records of people resident in South Devon and South Dorset between 1966 and 1971 who were sprayed with bacillus golbigii, E.coli and serratia marcescens in Ministry of Defence germ warfare tests. [43289]
§ Ms JowellInformation received from the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency states that the bacteriological material released during tests in the 1960s and 70s was composed of organisms which either occur naturally in the environment, or which were killed before release. The bacteria used do not present health problems.
Following concerns raised by local residents, Dorset Health Authority has commenced a survey into birth defects in the East Lulworth area. Preliminary investigations have not revealed any unexplained cluster of birth defects or ill health.