§ Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbottsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent the further sale of the smallpox virus following its sale by the United States to Russia and by Russia to Iraq. [HL661]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanAll strains and isolates of the smallpox virus are now located under the control of the World Health Organisation in two laboratories—one in Russia and one in the United States. The World Health Organisation is responsible for any transfers and we have no reason to believe that there has been any breach of this arrangement.