HC Deb 20 March 2002 vol 382 cc314-5W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is regarding the selection of films held in the archive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down to be transferred to the Imperial War Museum for permanent preservation; and what plans he has to change this policy. [43454]

Dr. Moonie

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 May 2001, Official Report, column 196W. Films held in the archive at Dstl Porton Down are gradually being transferred to the Imperial War Museum in accordance with Ministry of Defence policy. The final decision on which films should be preserved for permanent preservation rests with the Imperial War Museum. There are currently no plans to change this procedure.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates since 1 January 1999 the Independent Ethics Committee overseeing human experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down has discussed the long-term effects of nerve gas on humans during its meetings. [43453]

Dr. Moonie

The Independent Ethics Committee overseeing the conduct of the Service Volunteer Programme at Dstl Porton Down has not discussed the possible long term effects of exposure to nerve agents during its meetings since 1 January 1999.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down in 1973 entitled ?The effects of a chemical agent on the eyes of aircrew?. [43444]

Dr. Moonie

Yes.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many films are held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, of its biological warfare trial known as Operation Ozone which was conducted in 1954 off the Bahamas; and if he will place a list of the titles and dates of these films in the Library. [43456]

Dr. Moonie

Dstl Porton Down holds two canisters of 16 mm film entitled Operation Ozone ?Master? and Operation Ozone ?View? together with a videotape, entitled ?Operation Ozone—1954?, which contains footage extracted from the 16 mm ?Master? shot during the trial.

However, the titles of the 1,200 films in the archive at Dstl Porton Down have not been catalogued and in many cases are not very informative. It would involve disproportionate cost to collate a compete list of films. It is not, therefore, possible to say if the two canisters of film and the videotape detailed above represents the sum total of Dstl Porton Down?s film holdings in relation to Operation Ozone.