§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has for emergency medical procedures being carried out in the field to troops encountering(a) biological and (b) chemical weapons in Iraq in the event of a war; and if he will make a statement. [86490]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 10 December 2002]: No decisions have yet been made concerning military action against Iraq.
Members of the United Kingdom armed forces are afforded a range of countermeasures which would help protect them against the adverse health effects of chemical and biological weapons. These include physical protection, vaccines and antibiotics against biological agents, and nerve agent pre-treatment sets and Combopen injectors against chemical agents.
Procedures exist for the medical treatment and, if necessary, evacuation of personnel in the event of exposure, or possible exposure, to chemical or biological agents.