§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what powers individuals can be(a) prosecuted and (b) extradited for activities involving biological weapons. [13954]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 14 November 2001]: Individuals can be prosecuted under Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974. It is an offence for any person to develop, produce, stockpile, acquire or retain any biological agent or toxin where there is no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes. A person in possession of a biological weapon for terrorist purposes would also commit an offence under section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The United Kingdom has extradition arrangements with well over 100 countries. In most cases, a crime is extraditable if the available prison sentence in the United Kingdom and in the requesting jurisdiction is 12 months or more.