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To: kcvl; The Great Satan
Not for commercial use. Solely to be used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.

SECRET HEARING ON IRAQ LINK
DAVID HENCKE WESTMINSTER CORRESPONDENT
THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 2
The Guardian (London)
June 17, 1993


A COMMITTEE of MPs went into secret session last night after a senior civil servant refused to answer in public about his knowledge of exports to Iraq from Porton Down, the chemical defence research establishment.


Questioned by Alan Williams, Labour MP for Swansea West, about whether the establishment was involved in providing Iraq with vaccines to protect troops against chemical and biological agents, Mr Hart said: "I am afraid I must ask the committee to go into private session. I cannot answer that question in public."
Graham Hart, permanent secretary at the Department of Health, also refused to give the full reason why ministers halted the pounds 46 million privatisation of Porton Down after the Gulf war. The U-turn on the sell-off was revealed in a memorandum by Sir John Bourn, the Comptroller and Auditor General, which also discloses that Porton Down receives large royalties from overseas.


He also disclosed that anthrax and toxic agents were produced at Porton Down, but only to test vaccines.
Questioned by Alan Williams, Labour MP for Swansea West, about whether the establishment was involved in providing Iraq with vaccines to protect troops against chemical and biological agents, Mr Hart said: "I am afraid I must ask the committee to go into private session. I cannot answer that question in public."

Sir John's memo shows that ministers were poised to sell the centre to Porton International Ltd, a private company set up to market its products, but dropped the plan "in view of the part it played in the Gulf War." Mr Hart told the committee that this followed a meeting between ministers from the Treasury, Ministry of Defence and Department of Health.

Dr Jeremy Metters, deputy chief medical officer, told Mr Williams that Porton Down produced vaccines against anthrax and other anti-biological and chemical warfare agents.

He also disclosed that anthrax and toxic agents were produced at Porton Down, but only to test vaccines. Britain has signed an international agreement not to produce chemical and biological warfare materials but maintains that Porton Down is a chemical defence rather than a war research establishment.


16 posted on 02/14/2003 11:33:05 PM PST by Wallaby
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To: Grampa Dave; Cindy; dennisw; knighthawk; Sabertooth
PING!
17 posted on 02/14/2003 11:46:43 PM PST by Travis McGee (---------- "UNamericans" put the U.N. before America!)
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