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Mr. Arbuthnot: We have no plans to conduct further underground nuclear tests prior to the introduction of a comprehensive test ban treaty. Officials of this Department and the Atomic Weapons Establishment hold regular discussions with United States authorities on a wide range of nuclear issues. Including matters relating to nuclear testing.
LSD Experiments
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the regard and small change experiments involving service volunteers and LSD took place. [35106]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking where the Regard and Small Change studies took place has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions. There has been no study named Regard involving Service Volunteers and LSD carried out by CBDE. There was, however, a study with LSD called Recount. That and study Small Change took place on the trials range at CBDE Porton Down.
I hope this information is helpful.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of reports and laboratory data outlining the results of experiments in respect of the projects (a) Moneybags, (b) Recount and (c) Small Change carried out at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down on service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [34852]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will place the reports of the studies called Moneybags, Small Change and Recount in the House of Commons Library has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
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The use of LSD in studies with Service Volunteers has been public knowledge for decades and a film of Operation Moneybags was shown to the media and public during the Open Days held in 1969. Newspapers on 12 June 1969 carried detailed stories on the LSD trials and, more recently, replies to parliamentary questions have provided a great deal of information. The reports of the actual studies themselves are, however, well over 10 years old. It is not clear at the moment, and in the time available, whether the contents of them can now be released. I will look into this and write to you again.I hope this information is helpful.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if service volunteers taking part in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down called (a) Moneybags, (b) Recount and (c) Small Change were specifically told that they were to be given LSD; and in what terms they were advised of the possible (i) long-term and (ii) short- term effects of LSD. [34853]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if Service Volunteers involved in the studies using LSD were informed that they would be exposed to LSD and given indications of its long and short term effects has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
The purpose of the Moneybags, Small Change and Recount trials was to identify the effects of the drug LSD on behaviour in military operations. The Volunteers were briefed prior to the study as to the nature of the drug which would be administered. They were also informed that some of them would be given a placebo rather than the active drug so as to provide controls for the investigation. Prior to the study the Volunteers were not told specifically which individuals would have the drug rather than the placebo as this would have negated the validity of the study. After the exercise was completed the individuals were told whether they had had the drug or placebo administered.
The short term effects of the administered LSD were not suggested to the Volunteers prior to their exposure because of the risk that their response would be modified to meet the expected effects. No long term effects for single or low doses of LSD had been identified in clinical medicine and there were no possible effects to advise on.
I hope this information is helpful.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the service volunteers involved in the Moneybags experiments who were given 200 micrograms of LSD were affected by the dose. [34854]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how long Service Volunteers involved in the Moneybags experiments were affected by the dose of LSD they had been exposed to has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now
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includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.All the Volunteers who were exposed to LSD had fully recovered from the effects of the drug within 24 hours of their exposure. I hope this information is helpful.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who decided the amounts of LSD given to volunteers at the Chemical and Biological Establishments at Porton Down; if permission at ministerial level was required for the amounts and the experiments; and if he will make a statement. [35105]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking who decided on the amount of LSD given to volunteers and if permission at Ministerial level was required to conduct this work has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
Prior to beginning any programmes of work with Service Volunteers a review of the proposed study is conducted to assess the military requirement and the acceptability of the procedures. Since 1991 this reviewing role has been fulfilled by an Independent Ethics Committee but prior to this date a Committee of medical practitioners from the then Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, known as the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE), carried out this function. The protocols approved by this Committee were then considered by the ethical sub-group of the Medical Committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council which included independent experts.
The studies involving the use of LSD with Service Volunteers began in the early 1960's and were completed in 1968. The studies would have been reviewed by COSHE. They would also have been approved by the then Director of the Establishment who had overall responsibility for the running of the Establishment. At this distance in time we are unable to say whether Ministers were involved in the detailed decisions on dosage levels but consider this unlikely. I am sorry that I could not be more helpful.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experiments involving LSD and service volunteers other than Moneybags, Recount and Small Change were carried out at the Chemical and Biological Establishment at Porton Down. [35107]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Defence what experiments involving LSD and Service Volunteers, other than Moneybags, Recount and Small Change, were carried out at CBDE has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
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In addition to the studies mentioned above a small number of Volunteers were exposed to LSD under medical supervision in the establishment medical facilities. These studies, which have no generic name, were carried out between 1962 and 1968.I hope this information is helpful to you.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when was the last time that medical checks were carried out on the service volunteers who took part in tests and studies involving LSD at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down, to assess whether the tests had any long-term effect on the mental or physical health of the volunteers. [35101]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when was the last time that service personnel involved in studies with LSD were medically checked to assess whether there were any long term effects on the mental and physical health of the volunteers has been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
The Service Volunteers were medically screened for their suitability prior to their participation in the studies involving LSD. All Volunteers are medically examined on completion of their attendance at CBDE and this included those who participated in the LSD studies. As published clinical studies had not identified long term effects with single, low doses of LSD, it was not therefore considered appropriate to recall Volunteers for further assessment. I hope this information is helpful.
Mutual Defence Assistance Programme
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Britain and the United States of America set up the mutual defence assistance programme; what was the scope and aim of the programme; why it was set up; when it ended; and which branches of his Department were involved in the programme. [35574]
Mr. Soames: The United States and United Kingdom concluded a mutual defence assistance agreement on 27 January 1950, which provided for either Government to make available to the other equipment, materials or other military assistance designed to promote the integrated defence of the north Atlantic area and to facilitate the development of defence plans under the North Atlantic treaty. The agreement, presented to Parliament as Cmd 7894, was made as part of the US Government's action at that time to provide military aid to Europe, in accordance with the US Military Defence Assistance Act signed by President Truman on 6 October 1949. The agreement remains in force. It is not possible at this time to identify particular branches of the Ministry of Defence that may have been involved in the programme.
Service Volunteers Programme
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what arrangements have existed to warn service personnel who took part in tests and studies in the service volunteers programme at the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down since 1965 of
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the risks to their health, both in the short-term and long-term, of the experiments; when these arrangements were put in place; and if they have conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki declarations on medical research on humans. [35570](2) what arrangements have been made by the chemical warfare establishment at Porton Down to obtain the voluntary informed consent of service personnel who have participated in tests and studies in the service volunteers programme since 1965; when these arrangements were set up; and what steps he has taken to ascertain whether they conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki declarations on medical research on humans. [35563]
Mr. Soames: These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking about the arrangements since 1965 for warning Service Volunteers about the nature of the research in which they participate and what steps were taken to obtain their consent, have been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions. This reply covers both questions. All work with Service Volunteers since 1991 has required the approval of the Independent Ethics Committee before the study can begin. Protocols submitted for review by this Committee include a lay statement which is read to the volunteers by a military officer prior to them participating in the investigation. The lay statement explains the purpose, nature and any discomfort which may be experienced. Further briefing by the investigators carrying out the study is also carried out and the volunteers can withdraw from the study at any time without requiring to give a reason. Prior to the creation of the Independent Ethics Committee all studies involving the use of Service Volunteers were subject to review by the Committee on the Safety of Human Experiments (COSHE). Similar methods were used to acquaint the volunteers with the nature of the investigation in which they participated.
All work involving the use of Service Volunteers since 1965 has conformed to the Nuremberg code and Helsinki Declaration on the use of humans in medical research.
I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report , column 714 15 , what the studies to investigate the physiological load imposed by wearing the mark 4 NBC suit in various climatic conditions entailed; what exercises and tasks were performed by service volunteers; where these studies took place; what chemicals were used in the studies; and what was the conclusion of the studies. [35606]
Mr. Soames: This matter is for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the physiological studies on the Mk1V NBC suit has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisons.
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Physiological studies on the MkIV NBC suit conducted at CBDE involve performing various levels of exercise under different conditions of humidity and ambient temperature. The nature of the exercise includes walking on a treadmill or lifting loads of varying weights. All such studies are carried out with constant physiological monitoring and under medical supervision. Volunteers are encouraged to drink water and are provided with food while participating in the investigations. No chemical agents have been used in these studies. The conclusion of these studies have led to recommendations on the level of workload and its duration for personnel wearing protective clothing under different climatic conditions.I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 July, Official Report , columns 367 68 , if the policy of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, is such that service personnel who took part in the service volunteers programme at the establishment can have copies of the original laboratory reports and data held by the establishment on the experiments in which they participated; and if he will make a statement; [35610]
(2) what records are held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, on service personnel who take part in tests and studies in the service volunteers' programme; what details are kept in these records; and if these records are kept in a computer or on paper. [35569]
Mr. Soames: These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995 :
Your Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking about the records of Service Volunteer studies held by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) and also if they could be released to the individuals involved has been passed to me to reply as the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which now includes CBDE as one of its Divisions. I am replying to both questions in this letter.
It is currently the practice to keep records of the personal details of the volunteer, including name, rank, service number, unit, date of birth and age at the time of the study, as part of a paper folder raised for each volunteer. This folder also includes full details of the volunteer's medical history, the results of the pre and post study medical examinations and details of any medical condition arising co-incidental to the study. In order to facilitate administration the name, rank and service number of volunteers is held on computer but not the medical details contained in an individual's folder.
My answer to your previous question about records, dated 5 July, covered CBDE's long standing policy concerning the release of information held on Service Volunteers.
I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what tests and studies have been carried out since 1965 at the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down on service volunteers with Lewisite; what was the aim of these experiments; how the vesicant was administered to volunteers; what was the conclusion of these experiments; when these tests were carried out; how many service volunteers were involved in these tests and studies; and where and what dates the results of these tests were published in open literature. [35568]
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(2) what tests and studies have been carried out since 1965 at the Chemical Warfare Establishment at Porton Down on service volunteers with compound cyclohexyl methylphosponefluoridate; what was the purpose of these tests; how the compound was administered to volunteers; what were the conclusions of these experiments; when these tests were carried out; how many service volunteers were involved in these experiments; and where and on what dates the results of these tests were published in open literature. [35617]Mr. Soames: These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what studies with Service Volunteers have been carried out since 1965 with the chemical warfare agents Lewisite and cyclohexyl
methylphosphonofluoridate (GF) have been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
There have been no studies involving Service Volunteers using either Lewisite or GF since 1965.
I hope this information is helpful.
Cost Sharing Agreement
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report , column 723 , how much money was owed by the United States Government under the bilateral cost-sharing agreement on (a) 31 March 1994 and (b) 31 March 1995; what percentage of the annual expenditure under this agreement this figure represented on each date, excluding administration costs; and whether, under this agreement, the United States Government refund the cost of construction and maintenance carried out at their request and pay 7.5 per cent. of the works expenditure as a contribution towards the administration costs of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Works Service (United States Forces). [35616]
Mr. Soames: Bills with the US Government for payment amounted to £5,400,000 on 31 March 1994 and £3,600,000 on 31 March 1995 representing 6.5 per cent. and 3.6 per cent. respectively on the annual expenditure on US works under the cost sharing agreement. The US Government refund the cost of construction and maintenance carried out at its request by Ministry of Defence, Defence Works Service (USF) and pays 7.5 per cent. of the works expenditure as a contribution towards the adminstration costs of hte MOD, Defence Works Service (USF).
Safety Audits
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July, Official Report , column 274, if he will place in the Library copies of the 21 safety audits with the classified information removed. [35607]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.
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Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:Your Question to the Secretary of State of Defence asking if copies of the safety Aduits with the classified information removed will be placed in the Library has been passed on to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) as one of its Divisions.
The Safety Audits of CBDE by the Ministry of Defence are valuable because they deal in a frank and detailed manner with a range of complex safety issues. Publication of the reports would be unhelpful, not only because the removal of classified information would make the documents unbalanced and possibly unintelligible, but also because the knowledge of publication would inevitably affect to the content of reports. For these reasons I am not prepared to publish even edited Audits in the way you suggest.
I am sorry I could not be more helpful.
Ballistic Missiles
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report , column 888 , in which month the contract from the Directorate of Science (Ballistic Missile Defence) is due to end; whether the further option of one year on the contract is to be taken up; how much this option is worth; how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment are working on the contract and what their work entails; and how the contract is progressing. [35603]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.
Letter form John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 18 July 1995:
Your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking for further information concerning the contract between the Directorate of Science (Ballistic Missile Defence) and the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which now includes CBDE as one of its Divisions. The then Director General of CBDE wrote to you on this matter on 3 February. The option of a further year on the contract has been taken up by the US and the contract end date is now May 1996. The total value of the work (including the further option year) is $11.2 million. Thirty five staff at CBDE are employed for some of their time on this contract. The nature of the work is as previously described, namely technological research into the defeat of attacks by ballistic missiles with chemical or biological warheads. The programme of work is progressing well. I hope this information is helpful.
Small Arms (Sales)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report , column 468, what were the total receipts in each of the last three years received from the sale of surplus small arms, handguns and rifles. [35436]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Receipts from the sale of surplus small arms, handguns and rifles in the last three years were:
1992 93: £142,500
1993 94: £168,250
1994 95: £200,260
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Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received that surplus small arms sold by his Department have come into the possession of criminals. [35439]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I have been informed by the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police that the possession of surplus small arms by criminals, after they had been sold by the Ministry of Defence, is being investigated by the South Yorkshire police.
Nuclear Warheads (Reliability)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's assessment on whether the safety and reliability of Britain's nuclear warheads can be maintained only through a continuation of testing that produces a fission yield. [35420]
(2) what assessment he has made of the implications for the development of new nuclear warheads of the United Kingdom signing a comprehensive test ban treaty which prohibited any further nuclear testing which produced a fission yield; and if he will make a statement. [35421]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 10 July 1995, Official Report , column 469 .
Small Arms (Disposal)
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report , column 469 , if he will specify the cost in each of the last three years for the destruction of small arms. [35437]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The annual cost, in each of the past three years, for the destruction of small arms is in the order of £90,000.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report , column 468 , what assessment he has made of his Department's disposal methods of surplus small arms; and if he will make a statement. [35438]
Mr. Arbuthnot: Current policy and procedures guard against unauthorised disposal. Ministry of Defence police investigations are under way to ascertain whether these controls have been properly observed.
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