HC Deb 08 May 2001 vol 368 cc15-6W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 2001,Official Report, column 20W, on Porton Down, if he will place in the Library copies of each of the internal technical reports related to research involving Oripavine TL2636 identified by the chemical and biological defence sector of DERA at Porton Down. [159802]

Dr. Moonie

I will arrange to have copies of those reports on Oripavine TL2636 which have been declassified to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. The remainder of the reports are currently being reviewed for declassification before they can be placed in the Library of the House. The report from the CW applications discussion group of the 17th Quadripartite CBR Conference is classified and I am therefore only releasing the section which refers to Oripavine.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2001,Official Report, column 659W, on Oripavine, if he will place in the Library details of the evidence which suggests that following single acute doses of TL2636 there are no significant long-term effects on health. [159805]

Dr. Moonie

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his previous question. In this response I stated that the Oripavine derivative TL 2636 is a member of the same group of drugs as morphine, and although there had been no long term follow-up studies specifically relating to this derivative, these drugs have been used clinically for many years. The evidence to which I referred is widely available in the open literature and I have placed this in the Library of the House.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ask the Medical Research Council to consult the Porton Down veterans support group regarding its advice on an independent epidemiological study for service personnel who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down. [160494]

Dr. Moonie

No. The Medical Research Council is already in contact with the Porton Down veterans support group and will consult with them as necessary.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates officials from his Department and the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down have held meetings with the Medical Research Council since 5 March regarding its advice on an independent epidemiological study for Porton Down volunteers. [160488]

Dr. Moonie

Officials met with representatives from the Medical Research Council (MRC) at Porton Down on 5 April 2001.