---

Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 May 2001, Official Report, column 551W, regarding Porton Down, if he will place in the Library a description of each piece of research which has been carried out in response to inquiries from (a) former volunteers, (b) parliamentarians and (c) the Wiltshire police. [161040] Dr. Moonie: No. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous question of 9 April 2001, Official Report, column 364W, which explained the procedure for allowing former Porton Down volunteers access to information about the trials that they took part in at Porton Down. Each inquiry from an individual volunteer is a research task in itself and the information is personal to the volunteer and Porton Down. Inquiries from parliamentarians are in two forms: either parliamentary questions to which responses are already in the public domain, or parliamentary inquiries on behalf of an individual. In the case of the latter the information is personal to the volunteer and is given to the parliamentarian in confidence. Inquiries from the Wiltshire police are subject to ongoing investigation and it would not be appropriate to comment on these at this time.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

368 c416W;368 c415-6W; 161040

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Chemical and biological warfare Inquiries Research Chemical Defence Establishment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk