asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientists are now engaged on research into biological warfare at Porton; what is to be the future establishment; and what was the establishment in 1964, 1970 and 1974.

The number of scientists engaged on biological defence will be reduced next year to about 10. This is substantially fewer than the number currently engaged at MRE Porton. It is not the practice to reveal exact complements of defence R & D establishments, past or present.