§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what age restrictions exist for the military personnel who take part in the service volunteer programme at the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down; [112370]
(2) on what date the Porton Down volunteers helpline was opened; and how many individuals have contacted it since it was opened; [112374]
(3) what recent studies have been carried out by the chemical defence establishment at Potion Down to establish whether short-term exposure to (a) the chemical agent BZ and (b) the glycollate MPIPG can cause long-term illnesses; [112372]
(4) how many times since 1 March 1998 the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down has supplied information about former volunteers to the War Pension Agency when those volunteers have submitted a claim to the Agency; [112376]
709W(5) what is his Department's estimate of the percutaneous lethal dose of liquid sarin (GB) nerve agent for an averagely-built person; [112367]
(6) how many former service volunteers have visited the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down to inspect records of their experiments and discuss their tests with members of staff since 1 January 1998; [112375]
(7) how many military personnel took part in the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down during 1999; [112373]
(8) what work has been carried out by the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down to develop a test to identify the relative sensitivity of different individuals to the effects of nerve agents. [112377]
§ Dr. MoonieThis is a matter 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 Sir John Chisholm for Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 8 March 2000:
I am replying to your parliamentary questions about the service volunteer programme at Porton Down since the laboratories at this site are now operated by the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).The Porton Down volunteers helpline was opened in February 1998. Since then, some 250 former volunteers and/or their representatives have contacted the line. Ten volunteers have visited Porton Down since 1 January 1998 to view and discuss records with members of the staff. CBD has also supplied information about former volunteers to the War Pensions Agency when those volunteers have submitted a claim to the Agency on 28 occasions since 1 March 1998.During 1999, there were 71 military volunteer attendances at CBD Porton Down and 13 at HMS Phoenix, the Naval Nuclear and Biological Centre and fire training school for a study programme carried out under the auspices of the volunteer programme. The age of participants depends on the requirements of the individual study but is generally in the range from 18 to 45 years.CBD has not undertaken any work to develop a test to identify the relative sensitivity of different individuals to the effects of nerve agents. No work involving exposure to either the chemical agent BZ or the glycollate MPIPG has been undertaken since the 1970s. None of the pre 1970s work was to establish if short-term exposure resulted in long-term illness.I am withholding details of the Ministry of Defence estimates on the toxic doses of nerve agents including sarin (GB) under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information because their disclosure would cause harm to defence. As required under the Code, due account was taken in reaching this decision of the nature of the information and the possible public interest in disclosure.I hope this is helpful.