asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 May, Official Report, column 259, concerning chemical weapons, on what evidence the Minister of State based his statement that United States moves towards modernisation would underline to the Russians the benefits of reaching early agreement on a total ban; and if he will make a statement.

The statement was based on a reasonable assessment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the measures taken by Warsaw pact countries to modernise their chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 18 of annex A to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1985.