§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many extra body bags his Department has ordered as part of contingency planning for any war against Iraq; how many his Department holds in stock; and if he will make a statement. [101920]
§ Mr. IngramThe Department undertakes routine purchasing of body bags to maintain stock levels. The most recent order, to replenish stocks and provide for contingency requirements, was for a total of 4,040 bags. Deliveries have commenced.
The Ministry of Defence does not hold a centralised data on the holding of body bags, most of which are held at unit level, with a reserve held by the Defence Storage Distribution Agency and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received a copy of the pages of the Riegle report published by the US Senate on 25 May 1994, which lists the materials exported to Iraq which could contribute to a biological warfare programme; and if he will seek to establish from the USA what threat these materials provide to troops engaged in warfare with Iraq. [101400]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 6 March 2003]: The Ministry of Defence is aware of the Riegle report. We remain concerned that Iraq continues with efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, as set out in the dossier "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction" published by the Government last September.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received about the amount of(a) bacillus anthracis, (b) clostridium botulinum, (c) histoplasma capsulatum, (d) brucella melitensis and (e) clostridium perfingens which have been exported from the USA to Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [101401]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 6 March 2003]: We share information with allies and believe we have a good understanding of the potential threat that may derive from the biological materials, knowledge and technology known to be available to Iraq.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the consequences will be for troops operating in the Iraq area of the Iraq Atomic Energy Commission's possession of(a) E-coli, (b) genetic materials and (c) human and bacterial DNA. [101402]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 6 March 2003]: The United Kingdom believes that the possession by Iraq of E-coli, genetic materials or human and bacterial DNA poses less of a hazard than their continuing efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, as set out in the dossier "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction" published by the Government last September.