Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the Secret Intelligence Service commissioned the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down to conduct experiments with the chemical LSD on service personnel; when these experiments took place; what the outcome was of the trials; how many service personnel were tested with LSD; how many Porton Down scientists were tested with LSD; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Secret Intelligence Service commissioned the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down to conduct experiments with the chemical LSD on service personnel; when these experiments took place; what the outcome was of the trials; how many service personnel were tested with LSD; how many Porton Down scientists were tested with LSD; and if he will make a statement. [220430] Mr. Straw: In 1953 and 1954 the Secret Intelligence Service commissioned Porton Down to conduct tests on military service volunteers, and also on Porton Scientists themselves, to examine their reactions to LSD. The Government's defence interest in LSD began in the early 1950s because of its perceived potential as an incapacitant and/or interrogation aid. The 1953-54 LSD tests were but a small part of the continuing Porton Down volunteer test programme. The conclusion of the tests was that LSD had no demonstrable value for intelligence purposes.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1234W; 220430
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Armed forces Chemical weapons Research Testing Chemical Defence Establishment Human experiments Veterans LSD
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk