§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Solicitor-General if she will place in the Library the document sent by the Crown Prosecution Service to those questioned in connection with Operation Antler, explaining the Law Officers' decision on prosecutions. [146574]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralOperation Antler is the name given to an investigation into allegations made by ex-Servicemen who volunteered to participate in research experiments at Porton Down. Wiltshire police commenced the investigation in 1999, with the assistance of Ministry of Defence police officers.
69WThe Crown Prosecution Service wrote to 66 volunteers on 7 July 2003 informing them that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute and that a further letter would follow given detailed reasons for the decision.
On 18 December 2003, the Crown Prosecution Service wrote to each of the 66 volunteers explaining the reason not to prosecute. Each volunteer received an individual letter discussing the evidence in their particular case and containing personal information such as that volunteer's medical history.
These letters are private correspondence between the Crown Prosecution Service and the volunteers and have not been placed in the Library. The Crown Prosecution Service has, however, produced an account of the evidence it has considered, the relevant law and its conclusions. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.