§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral answer of the Secretary of State for Defence of 17 February 1998,Official Report, column 987, what discussions he has had with the US authorities about the implications of their research at (a) Fort Detrich Maryland biological warhead facilities and (b) elsewhere into the likely effects of a near-miss of missiles or bombs on (i) anthrax and (ii) other chemical and biological warhead facilities. [31012]
§ The Prime MinisterI have had no such discussions. However, UK/US research collaboration on Chemical and Biological Defence is governed by a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (UK/US/Canada) originally signed in 1980, and by the Technical Cooperation Programme and officials in the Ministry of Defence keep in contact with their US counterparts under the provision of these agreements.