Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 25 February 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 February 2008. It was answered by Shahid Malik (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 March 2008 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Vietnam: Chemical Weapons

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008, Official Report, columns 753-4W, on Vietnam: chemical weapons, how many Vietnamese have been identified as victims of Agent Orange (a) inside and (b) outside areas which were sprayed; and what estimate has been made of the numbers of as yet unborn people who will be affected.

Answer: There is no agreed accurate information available on how many Vietnamese were victims of Agent Orange and other herbicides, during and since the war, or how many will be affected in the future.The Government of Vietnam states that up to 5 million people may have been affected by Agent Orange. The US suggests that the number is probably much lower and is funding research to provide clearer evidence of the link between dioxins and health and of the number of people affected.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 190169; 472 c2253W
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Vietnam: Chemical Weapons
Monday, 4 February 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Chemical weapons Dioxins Vietnam
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk