HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 cc1303-4W
Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stocks of vital materiel the Health Protection Agency is procuring to prepare for an attack by nuclear, biological, radiological or chemical weapons. [128666]

Mr. Hutton

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is not procuring any stocks of vital material in preparation for an attack using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) weapons. The procurement of health-related CBRN countermeasures is the responsibility of the Department and, in undertaking this role, the Department seeks scientific and technical advice from the HPA as required.