House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Jun 1994

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Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 11th January, Official Report, columns 163-4 for further information about the nerve agent VX and the V series research carried out at Nancekuke have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

3. The studies on VX during 1957-1976 were to determine whether or not this agent was producible in quantity and was stable when stored. Our records do not indicate the amount of VX but it is estimated to be less than 100 kgs.

4. The V series agents were substituted analogues of VX. The V series agents were investigated to determine whether they were stable and whether they could be produced effectively by an aggressor. 5. The results of this work have formed part of the chemical and biological defence programme and is part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Cooperation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what precautions are taken to ascertain whether individual service personnel have allergies before they are tested in the human volunteer programme at the chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down ;

(2) how long is the average stay for service volunteers who are involved in studies at the chemical and biological warfare establishment at Porton Down ; how much payment each service volunteer receives ; and how many tests each individual undergoes on average.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what precautions are taken to ascertain whether individual Service personnel have allergies before they participated in the human volunteer programme and how long is the average stay for Service volunteers who are involved in studies at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down ; how much payment each Service volunteer receives ; and how many tests each individual undergoes on average have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to :

(a) assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

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(b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

(c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.

3. In order to ascertain whether individual Service personnel have allergies before they are tested in the human volunteer programme their Service medical documents are reviewed at CBDE before the volunteers attend for studies. No volunteer is accepted for studies at CBDE with a medical history suggesting allergic response to any substance. A recent, positive history of hay fever, asthma, eczema or other allergic phenomenon will lead to rejection at the initial medical examination, despite the fact that this may not be directly relevant to the study, or substances being used in the study being performed. Evidence or allergic response found at the initial medical examination, such as urticaria, or respiratory function tests suggesting an allergic airway response (asthma) will also lead to automatic rejection.

4. Service volunteers may remain at CBDE for between three days to four weeks depending on the study protocol in which they are participating. The majority of recent and current protocols involve a two or three week stay. Payment for the inconvenience associated with the tests in a study will vary according to the number of tests undertaken which may vary between about a minimum of 100 to a maximum of approximately 400 ; a payment is made for each test. The minimum amount presently paid is £142 after tax whereas the maximum is £350 after tax.

Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January, Official Report, column 306, what was the conclusion of the Biotechnology Committee's report into the implications of biotechnology for defence ; how many members were then serving on the Biotechnology Committee ; how many of them were academics ; whether they were given access to the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down ; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 26th January, Official Report, column 306, what was the conclusion of the Biotechnology Committee's report into the implications of biotechnology for defence ; how many members were then serving on the Biotechnology Committee ; how many of them were academics ; whether they were given access to the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down ; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The Biotechnology Committee considered the impact that biotechnology would have on the threat from biological weapons and the ways in which this technology could be harnessed to enhance the United Kingdom's defence capability to detect and provide medical countermeasures against biological agents. The Biotechnology Committee consisted of 14 members of which 7 were from academia. They were given access to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down and to relevant documentation in order to carry out their task. Their report is classified and as such I am unable to arrange to place a copy in the Library.

Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January, Official

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Report, column 163, (1) how many service volunteers were used for tests at Porton Down in each year between 1964 and 1979 ; what was the purpose of those tests ; and which chemicals and biological organisms were used in those tests ;

(2) what were the reasons for the increases in the number of tests on service volunteers in 1980 and 1981 ; why only GB (Sarin) has been used in the tests since 1979 ; and what were the highest and lowest amounts of this agent used in these tests.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 11 January, Official Report, column 163, asking how many volunteers were used for tests at Porton Down each year between 1964 and 1979 and the reasons for the increases in the number of tests in Service volunteers in 1980 and 1981 and why only GB (Sarin) has been used since 1979 have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to :

(a) assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

(b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

(c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

3. The number of Service volunteers used for studies at Porton Down in each year between 1964 and 1979 was as follows :


       |Number       

---------------------

1964   |298          

1965   |146          

1966   |149          

1967   |244          

1968   |263          

1969   |181          

1970   |327          

1971   |225          

1972   |358          

1973   |264          

1974   |304          

1975   |137          

1976   |254          

1977   |117          

1978   |104          

1979   |153

These volunteers have participated in studies carried out for the purposes outlined in paragraph 2 above. No volunteer studies have been carried out involving biological organisms.

4. The number of Service volunteers increased in 1980 and 1981 because of the need to carry out studies into aircrew protection. A number of studies were carried out to determine the lowest acceptable level for exposure to nerve agents.

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5. GB (Sarin) is an example of a volatile nerve agent which has been used in all studies involving nerve agents since 1979. This agent has been used as it is representative of the range of nerve agents.

Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January, Official Report, columns 165-66, which of the studies on nerve gases, CR gas and CS gas were carried out in Australia ; at which Australian defence establishment these tests were done ; what was the purpose and conclusion of these tests ; and in which years these tests were carried out.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 11th January, Official Report, columns 165-6, which of the studies on nerve gases, CR gas and CS gas were carried out in Australia, at which Australian defence establishment these test were done ; what was the purpose and conclusion of these tests ; and in which years these tests were carried out has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

3. In this work it has been necessary to evaluate the potential hazards from nerve gases and the irritants CR and CS. Our records do not indicate that any of our work on these materials has been carried out in Australia.

Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January, Official Report, column 303, (1) at which military establishments studies for the human volunteer programme have taken place other than the chemical and biological defence establishment at Porton Down ; when and for what reasons these studies were conducted at Porton Down ; and what was the conclusion of these studies ;

(2) when the detailed protocol was approved by the independent ethics committee and adopted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment ; and if he will publish this protocol covering the testing of volunteers.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 22 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer of 26 January, Official Response, column 303, when the detailed protocol was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and adopted by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment ; and if he will publish this protocol covering the testing of volunteers and at which military establishments studies for the human volunteer programme have taken place other than the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down ; when and for what reasons these studies were conducted at Porton Down ; and

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what was the conclusion of these studies have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to :

(a) assess the ability of service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

(b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel and

(c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.

3. A separate detailed protocol is prepared for each study ; these are classified and are not published.

4. Our records indicate that studies involving Service volunteers have also taken place at RMCS Shrivenham, Dover, Bulford, The Cambridge Military Hospital and some collaborative work has been carried out with the Institute of Aviation Medicine. Such studies are carried out at these other Establishments when it is more convenient to do the studies there than to require the volunteers to come to Porton Down.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests and studies have been carried out by Porton Down to assess the so-called pepper sprays ; when these tests and experiments were carried out ; whether they involved humans and animals ; what were the conclusions of these studies ; when the results of these studies and tests were exchanged with other United Kingdom Government Departments and other countries ; and with which other countries and United Kingdom Government Departments these results were shared.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what tests and studies have been carried out by Porton Down to assess the so-called pepper sprays ; when these tests and experiments were carried out, whether they involved humans and animals ; what were the conclusions of these studies ; when the results of these studies and tests were exchanged and other United Kingdom government departments and other countries ; and with which other countries and United Kingdom government departments these results were shared has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. 2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

3. Our records indicate that no tests or studies have been carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment to assess so-called pepper sprays. We are aware that the active material in the so-called pepper sprays devices is capsaicin ; this was studied by CBDE in the 1920s as a possible incapacitating agent. Our records do not indicate what detailed work was done with capsaicin.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last negotiated with the United States

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of America to supply Britain with a shipment of nerve gas ; what prompted the negotiations ; and what were the conclusions of the negotiations.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when his Department last negotiated with the United States of America to supply Britain with a shipment of nerve gas ; what prompted the negotiations ; and what were the conclusions of the negotiation has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

3. Our records indicate that the last transfer of nerve gas from the United States of America to Britain took place in June 1967 and was transported to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. Our records do not indicate precisely when the negotiations took place but they are likely to have been in the course of the regular trilateral and quadlateral discussions with the US on chemical and biological defence, and to have taken place shortly before the transfer in 1967. The negotiations which led to this transfer took place to enable a collaborative programme of work into the stability and analytical research of nerve agents to be carried out. The results of this work was part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would therefore be part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Co-operation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Warfare Establishment at Porton Down have been permanently disabled since 1964 due to work-related activity ; in which year each occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each one ; and what was the establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such cases ;

(2) how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Warfare Establishment at Porton Down have died due to work-related activity since 1964 ; in which year each death occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each death ; and what was the establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such deaths.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down have died or been permanently disabled due to work-related activities since 1964 ; in which year each death occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each death ; and what was the Establishment's

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response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such deaths has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to have available small quantities of materials which may be used as chemical or biological warfare agents by a potential aggressor. 3. Our records indicate that no members of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment staff have died or been permanently disabled due to a work related activity since 1964.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 January, Official Report, column 397, with which other countries the results of the tests on tryptamines were shared ; when these results were shared and through which defence agreement they were exchanged ; which animals were tested with tryptamines ; how many of each of these animals were used ; and when Porton Down ended its work on tryptamines.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer to 27th January, Official Report, column 397-8, with which other countries the results of the tests on tryptamines were shared ; when these results were shared and through which defence agreement they were exchanged ; which animals were tested with tryptamines ; how many of each of these animals were used ; and when Porton Down ended its work on tryptamines has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

3. Our records do not indicate precisely how many small laboratory animals were used in this work but they are likely to have involved rats, mice, rabbits and monkeys. The work involving tryptamines ceased in the mid 1960s and the results of this work was part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would therefore be part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Co-operation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down has done to assess the threat of genetically engineered toxins ; what was the conclusion of the work ; which toxins have been studied ; what tests and studies have been involved in this work ; which section of the establishment has been carrying out the work ; whether the results have been published in open literature ; and whether the results have been exchanged with any other country.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

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Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him what the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down has done to assess the threat of genetically-engineered toxins ; what was the conclusion of the work ; which toxins have been studied ; what tests and studies have been involved in this work ; which section of the Establishment has been carrying out the work ; whether the results have been published in open literature ; and whether the results have been exchanged with any other country has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

3. Theoretical reviews have been carried out to evaluate the threat from genetically engineered toxins by the Defence Microbiology Division in conjunction with appropriate sections of the Establishment. The results are classified and have not been published in the open literature. In addition genetic engineering has been used as a tool in work to study medical countermeasures to toxins by, for example, detoxifying toxins in order to produce safer vaccines. This work was part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would therefore be part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Co-operation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone), on 11 January, Official Report , columns 163-64 , what was the purpose of research on the nerve agent GD during the years outlined at Nancekuke ; what was the conclusion of this research ; what quantities of the nerve agent were used in this research ; with which other countries the results of this research were shared and under which defence agreement this occurred.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Brent East on 11th January, Official Report, columns 163-64, what was the purpose of research on the nerve agent GD during the years outlined at Nancekuke ; what was the conclusion of this research, what quantities of the nerve agent was used in this research ; with which other countries the results of this research were shared and under which defence agreement this occurred has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out research to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.

3. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has carried out work on the nerve agent GD to evaluate the feasibility and hazard of the use of such an agent against the UK Armed Forces. The work enabled assessments to be made of the ease of

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acquisition of the precursors for GD, the case of stabilisation of GD and the shelf life of thickened GD. The quantity used was about 60 kg.

4. The results of this work were part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would have formed part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Co-operation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when female service personnel have taken part in tests under the human volunteer programme at Porton Down ;

(2) how many service personnel have died while taking part in the human volunteer programme run by the Chemical and Biological Warfare Establishment at Porton Down since 1964 ; in which year each death occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each death ; and what was the establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such deaths ;

(3) how many service personnel have been involved in accidents requiring hospital treatment while or after taking part in the human volunteer programme run by the Chemical and Biological Warfare Establishment at Porton Down since 1964 ; in which year each accident occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each accident ; and what was the establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such accidents.

Mr. Hanley : These matters are for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 June 1994 :

1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many service personnel have been involved in accidents requiring hospital treatment while or after taking part in the human volunteer programme run by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1964 ; in which year each accident occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each accident ; and what was the Establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such accidents, how many service personnel have died while taking part in the human volunteer programme run by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1964 ; in which year each death occurred ; what were the causes and circumstances of each death ; and what was the Establishment's response in terms of changing procedures to prevent such deaths and when female service personnel have taken part in tests under the human volunteer programme at Porton Down have been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

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