HC Deb 15 November 2001 vol 374 cc823-5W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence between his Department and the Medical Research Council prior to 21 November 2000, relating to the proposal to seek its advice on the feasibility of an epidemiological study into volunteers who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down. [14743]

Dr. Moonie

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 December 2000,Official Report, columns 163–64W. There is no such correspondence on this matter other than that which was placed in the Library of the House.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department are employed to carry out the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down announced on 1 May; what grade each of these officials is; and on what date each started work on the comprehensive survey. [14748]

Dr. Moonie

With effect from 28 February 2001 the historical survey has been undertaken by a Principal (Grade B2) working for the Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit. Additional support has been provided, as required, by staff based at Porton Down and within the Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue a press release announcing the winners of the contract to carry out the epidemiological study to explore the health of volunteers who took part in experiments at the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down; and when the winners will be chosen. [14749]

Dr. Moonie

At the request of the Ministry of Defence the Medical Research Council (MRC) invited proposals for such a study and these are now under consideration. Recommendations about which proposals are suitable for funding by the MOD are expected after the next meeting of the MRC's Physiological, Medicine and Infections Board in January. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement about which proposals will be taken forward shortly after that.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed in his Department's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit specifically to deal with issues relating to Porton Down volunteers. [14753]

Dr. Moonie

At present, four Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit staff deal full time with issues relating to Porton Down volunteers; a further six staff assist with these issues on a part-time basis as required.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, have been referred to the medical assessment programme since 21 November 2000; and how many of these have been seen by the medical assessment programme. [14762]

Dr. Moonie

During the period 21 November 2000 to 8 November 2001, 94 former Porton Down volunteers have been referred to the MAP. Of this number 88 have been seen.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many teams of scientists and academics have expressed an interest in carrying out the epidemiological study to explore the health of volunteers who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down, since 21 June; if he will list these teams; and if he will place in the Library copies of the submissions of interest of those teams which have now withdrawn from the competition to conduct this study. [14757]

Dr. Moonie

This is a matter for the Medical Research Council (MRC), which has invited research proposals on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and will make recommendations about which proposals merit funding early next year. The MRC treats competing applications for peer review in strict confidence and therefore details of the proposals may not be released. However, we have been advised by the MRC that they received 15 expressions of interest, of which seven were shortlisted. Subsequently five research proposals were received from four United Kingdom groups.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates officials in his Department have held meetings with the Medical Research Council since 5 April, to discuss the epidemiological study into volunteers who took part in experiments at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down. [14744]

Dr. Moonie

Meetings between Ministry of Defence staff and the Medical Research Council to discuss epidemiological research into Porton Down volunteers took place on 30 May, 2 August, and 3 August.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questionnaires have been sent out to former service personnel by his Department's officials conducting the comprehensive survey of the service volunteer programme at the chemical defence establishment, Porton Down; and how many questionnaires have been returned by former service personnel who took part in the experiments. [14755]

Dr. Moonie

Some 726 questionnaires seeking recollections from former participants of the Porton Down Service Volunteer programme have been distributed by the Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit via the Wiltshire police and the Medical Assessment Programme. As at 13 November 2001, 400 questionnaires had been returned.