27 Jun 2000 : Column: 433W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 27 June 2000
DEFENCE
Missile Defence System
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what criteria the Government will employ in making a decision on the deployment of a national missile defence system; [126947]
- (2) if the results of his Department's Technology, Readiness and Risk Assessment programme will be available before a decision is taken on whether to allow UK facilities to be used in a US national missile defence system; [126949]
(3) on what basis a decision will be made on whether to allow the USA to upgrade the facilities at Fylingdales for a national missile defence system; [126948]
(4) what recent discussions there have been between the UK and the USA regarding options for locating anti-ballistic missile sites in the UK; [126942]
(5) what assessment he has (a) made recently and (b) plans to make of the impact of a national missile defence system on the security of the UK. [126946]
Mr. Hoon: We have discussed, and continue to discuss, a range of aspects of possible proposals for a US National Missile Defence system with the United States. The US has not asked for UK assistance in the deployment of the proposed system, nor would we expect them to do so until after a US decision on whether to proceed with its deployment. In discussions with the US Administration we have made it clear that the UK would consider any such request carefully, taking into account a wide range of factors, including the implications for UK defence.
The MOD's Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme is due to be completed next summer. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 451W.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if NATO has (a) carried out and (b) is undertaking research into ballistic missile defences. [126938]
Mr. Hoon: We are not aware of any research carried out or being undertaken by NATO into ballistic missile defences. The Ministry of Defence has, however, contributed to NATO studies on the subject, including preparations for studies into the feasibility of theatre ballistic missile defence. We expect these studies to start next year.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place between the UK and the USA on sea-based ballistic missile defences. [126945]
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 434W
Mr. Hoon: The UK is not directly involved in the US sea-based Theatre Missile Defence programme but limited information exchange and collaborative research has been undertaken.
Porton Down
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down has made of the toxicity to humans of (a) the nerve agent GF and (b) sarin GB. [127132]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 27 June 2000:
- I am replying to your parliamentary question about nerve agents and their toxicity to humans since the laboratories at Porton Down are part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
- GB (sarin) and GF (cyclosarin) are organophosphorus nerve agents developed during World War II in Germany. Both agents are highly toxic chemicals. GB is a highly volatile liquid and is a particular hazard following inhalation, GF is some 30-35 times less volatile and presents a particular hazard from absorption through skin. In hot climates, however, GF may also present a significant hazard from inhalation.
- Both GB and GF are potent inhibitors of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is responsible for the control of the important chemical messenger acetylcholine within the nervous system. When humans are poisoned, the signs and symptoms of acute poisoning progress from a general feeling of malaise, pinpoint pupils (miosis), excessive sweating, salivation, runny nose and breathing difficulties, through nausea, vomiting and muscle tremor, to loss of consciousness, convulsions and death from respiratory failure. The severity of these signs and their rate of progress depends upon the dose and route of exposure to the nerve agents. In general, those agents absorbed through the skin, such as GF, will exhibit a delayed onset of poisoning and those which are inhaled, such as GB, will exhibit a very rapid onset (within 1-2 min) of signs and symptoms of poisoning.
- A knowledge of the toxicity of these nerve agents has been built up over the years since the Second World War. Assessments have been prompted by intelligence reports of the chemical arsenals of potential aggressors, for example Iraq. They have been based upon studies in animals and to a limited extent in humans conducted within the UK and the Allied Nations. A number of these studies were carried out at Porton Down between 1948 and 1989. The last trial looked at the effects on the eye of low levels of GB. The trial was conducted to assess the effects from "the maximum dosage of nerve agent vapour to the eyes acceptable for aircrew" under NATO prescribed conditions. Scientists at Porton Down have also undertaken three paper exercises to examine the possible long-term effects of nerve agent exposure using the service medical records of volunteers previously exposed to GB. None of the three studies showed any significant difference between the patterns of days lost through illness, the number of specialist appointments or the number of hospital admissions between the control and exposed groups.
- Medical countermeasures to both GB and GF have been developed at CBD Porton Down and the combination of pre-treatment with Nerve Agent Pre-Treatment Set (NAPS) tablets and use of the ComboPen injector, which contains atropine, an oxime (P2S) and an anticonvulsant (Avizafone), provide effective antidotes against poisoning by these agents.
- I hope the above is helpful.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (Porton Down) has compiled since 1970 on individuals who took part in the service volunteer programme; and for what reasons. [127133]
27 Jun 2000 : Column: 435W
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 27 June 2000:
- I am replying to your parliamentary question enquiring about the type of information available on individuals who have participated in the Porton Down service volunteer programme since 1970. I am replying since the laboratories at Porton Down are part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
- Records of volunteers who took part in studies between 1970 to the present day are held in a series of notebooks. These books contain, as a minimum, a volunteer's name, service number, date of attendance and the brief title of the study in which they participated. The general trend is that the more recent the study, the more comprehensive and detailed the information available. In the past, unless the studies involved exposure to chemical warfare agents such as mustard or nerve agents, in which case, additional information regarding the nature of this exposure might be recorded in specific laboratory notebooks, often the only surviving information on a volunteer's attendance is a simple entry in a summary book. In recent years, our records have become much more comprehensive and include written pre and post study medical examination notes.
- The records of the service volunteers are part of the corporate record. This archive is a valuable source of information on which we are able to draw when answering questions from former volunteers, their relatives, general practitioners and the War Pensions Agency about individuals' participation in the volunteers programme.
- I hope the above explains the situation.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the Health and Safety Executive has inspected the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1 January 1996. [127134]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 27 June 2000:
- I am replying to your parliamentary question about Health and Safety Executive inspections at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down, since the establishment is part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has conducted two formal inspections since 1 January 1996; an inspection was conducted during February 1996 and a further inspection of the areas of the site involved with the handling of explosives was conducted on 31 May 2000. HSE has also visited the site on several occasions between 1996 and 2000 in order to discuss specific issues.
- The HSE is expected to conduct a further formal inspection of the site within the next few months.
- I hope the above is helpful.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |