§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has made to counter a germ-warfare attack on the United Kingdom. [40422]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government take very seriously the need to protect the United Kingdom against the threat or use of weapons of mass destruction, including biological warfare. We remain alert to any threat, and the UK retains a spectrum of military, scientific and other capabilities, which complement diplomatic and non-proliferation efforts intended to raise the political and economic costs of acquisition of these weapons and deter their use.
I can assure my hon. Friend that, in the context of the Strategic Defence Review, we are considering very carefully our military posture against the risks posed by all weapons of mass destruction.