To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has undertaken of the capacity of the UK emergency services to cope with a chemical attack on UK populations and towns. (129168)

The Home Office reviews such capacity on a regular and ongoing basis and through a variety of means. These include direct contact with individual area emergency services; exercising of response capability; audits and assessments as part of the Cabinet Office led Capabilities Programme, and analysis of the results of the National Capabilities Survey.