INQUEST VERDICT ON PORTON DOWN VICTIM

Early day motion 71, tabled 23 November 2004 by Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 44 members.

This this House welcomes the verdict of the Wiltshire coroner that Ronald Maddison's death, caused by exposure to chemical warfare tests at the Porton Down government research establishment in 1953, was unlawful; urges the Secretary of State for Defence to examine the cases of other victims of these tests, including those from Cornwall and Devon, with a view to accepting claims for compensation from them and their families; calls for the release of all the evidence presented to the original secret inquest in 1953; and demands an early statement from the Secretary of State on the implications of this verdict for future Government policy.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 23, Labour 15, Scottish National Party 4, Labour/Co-operative 2.