Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 January 1996. It was answered by Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 January 1996 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: On what grounds members of the Ethics Committee overseeing the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment are chosen; if members are required to sign the Official Secrets Act; what access they are given to classified information; and what annual reports this committee produces on its work.

Answer: Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds members of the ethics committee overseeing the service volunteers programme at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment are chosen; if members are required to sign the Official Secrets Act; what access they are given to classified information; and what annual reports this committee produces on its work. [9044] Mr. Arbuthnot: Individuals are invited to become members of the independent ethics committee on the grounds that their expertise and experience complements those of the existing members, taking into consideration the guidelines on the constitution of ethics committees published by the Royal College of Physicians. The members of the committee are required to sign the Official Secrets Act as they have unrestricted access to any classified information which may related to the decisions taken by the committee. The committee produces an annual report which is given a security classification appropriate to the work conducted in that year.

Secondary information